Stabbed bishop returns to pulpit two weeks after alleged terrorist attack

The Sydney bishop who was stabbed in an alleged terrorist attack has returned to the pulpit where he was seriously injured two weeks ago and spoken of his forgiveness for his alleged teenage assailant.

Wearing a white medical eye patch, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel delivered an almost hour-long Palm Sunday sermon to the congregation at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on Sunday evening. He was welcomed with cheers and a standing ovation.

“This young man who did this act almost two weeks ago, I say to you, my dear, you are my son,” he said. “I will always pray for you. I’ll always wish you nothing but the best.

“And for whoever was in this act, in the name of my Jesus, I forgive you. I love you. And I will always pray for you,” Emmanuel said.

The sermon was livestreamed and posted to the church’s social media.

“In Christ we are always united regardless of our differences as far as theological, dogmatic or canonical differences are,” the bishop said.

The 16-year-old who allegedly stabbed the bishop during a service on Monday, April 16 was charged with a Commonwealth terrorism offence.

Police have charged 10 people over their alleged participation in an ensuing riot that saw 20 officers injured and nearly 100 police vehicles damaged.

Seven teenage boys allegedly belonging to a terrorist cell were also arrested in police raids across Sydney as part of a major counter-terrorism investigation launched after the stabbing.