Moroccan Christians pray for the Atlas Lions

Far from the exuberant festivities, it was in a "spirit of responsibility and national consciousness" that Moroccan evangelicals celebrated Christmas on the night of December 25th. They have thus adapted their rites to the political, climatic and sporting circumstances currently facing the Kingdom.

The watchword was sobriety. Pastor Adam Rbati, president of the Union of Moroccan Christians, explained that the community has voluntarily reduced the festive aspect "out of respect for the painful events" that have recently occurred.

Thoughts turned to the cities affected by the bad weather, particularly Safi and Fez. Specific prayers were offered for the healing of the injured, mercy for the deceased and comfort for their families. Mustapha Soussi, spokesperson for the Coordination of Moroccan Christians, specifies that believers from Safi, who have themselves experienced the disaster, participated in these moments of recollection, giving the event a "deep human dimension".

A striking feature of this religious vigil: football has made its way into the prayers. Christian leaders have confirmed that a portion of the invocations was devoted to the Moroccan national team.

The faithful have prayed for the success of the Atlas Lions in the qualifiers and the final phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco. They hope to see the national team "continue to honor Moroccan football" and bring joy to the people, thus consolidating national unity.

For these Moroccans of Christian faith, the priority remains the preservation of the country’s stability, described as a "collective grace", and the promotion of the values of coexistence in "a homeland for all".