In 1970, Qaddafi came to power, seizing the goods of the Church. There are now only two churches, in Tripoli and Bengasi. Qaddafi also expelled the religious working in schools, allowing only those who worked in hospitals to remain. Libya has hospitals, but needs people to care for the sick with love. This was thanks to the many Christians, now some 100,000, who come here to work.
Christians have complete freedom of meeting and prayer, though there are many logistical problems.
The secret weapon proposed by the Bishop is simple. The more intensely a Christian lives the Gospel, the easier he will understand Islam. The principle of reciprocity feeds the dialogue. The announced visit of the Pope to the Holy Land also promises to be a significant step in dialogue among Muslims, Christians, and Jews. No further details about the results of the tests or the nature of his illness were made public.