Christians

These were the last words 45-year-old Medhat Saad Hakim heard before he was shot in the head on his doorstep last month.

The gunmen dragged Hakim's screaming mother outside the house before going back inside and shootinghis father dead. The attackers then looted the house before torching it. His mother, Nabila Halim, survived the attack.

"So many Christians are like this, and these people scandalize others," Francis said during morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, according to Vatican Radio. "How many times have we heard -- all of us, around the neighborhood and elsewhere -- 'But to be a Catholic like that, it's better to be an atheist.' It is that: scandal."

A dawn prayer service, led by inter-denominational church groups, was then held at the National Parliament house, starting at 5am.

Youths from churches walked in groups from as far as Gerehu, Morata and Waigani, to the Parliament house to join in the dawn prayer service.

The service was led by Pastor Joseph Walters and other church leaders. Prayers seeking forgiveness as well as thanksgiving were done this morning.

Youths representing each province led prayers for the 22 provinces in the country.

According to RNZI, Dr Mohammed Bin Yahya was responding to comments by the National Council of Churches that Islam should be banned in Samoa.

The Secretary General of the council, Reverend Ma'auga Motu, described Islam as a threat, calling on the Prime Minister to review the religious freedom provisions of the constitution.