Pope Benedict XVI called on religious and political leaders in Iraq and around the world to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country which is so troubled by insecurity and "savage violence."
The pope expressed his deep concern for Iraq's Christian community as well as all victims of the increase in violence and intimidation throughout the country.
After praying the Angelus Oct. 22 with thousands of the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the pope first sent his "cordial greetings" to Muslims around the world who were about to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan, wishing them all "serenity and peace."
This "joyous atmosphere" of celebration, however, has been clouded by the "very serious situation of insecurity and savage violence" faced by so many innocent people in Iraq solely "because (they are) Shiites, Sunnis or Christians," he said.
The pope said he was aware of the tremendous worry running through Iraq's Christian communities, adding that his thoughts and prayers for "strength and consolation" were with them as with all victims in the conflict.
The pope prayed that God would grant Iraq and the world's religious and political leaders "the needed faith and courage" to help Iraqis rebuild their country and reach reconciliation between factions by realizing "that the plurality of its components is an integral part of (the country's) wealth."
Church leaders in Iraq have expressed concern about a marked increase in violence, especially against Christians. Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, numerous churches have been bombed, and Christians have been kidnapped, killed or threatened.
Half of all Iraqi Christians have fled their country over the past three and a half years, according to Chaldean Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Andreos Abouna of Baghdad. Before the invasion there were about 1.2 million Christians in the predominantly Shiite Muslim state; since then the overall number has dropped to about 600,000, he said.
Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad has said that violence, persecution and instability together with the world's apparent indifference to the plight of the country's Christians have forced them into exile.
In an Oct. 16 interview with the Rome-based missionary news agency AsiaNews, the patriarch criticized the "role of the international community that is unable to control the dramatic situation in the country."
He said Christians and Muslims had lived harmoniously in Iraq for more than 1,000 years and, "like Lebanon and Syria, (had been) a model of peaceful coexistence."
Losing Christians to emigration would represent "a big loss not only for Iraq, but for the cause of humankind, and it will have serious consequences for Muslims, too," he said.
Catholic patriarchs of the Eastern churches said their churches have always been an invaluable link between Christianity and Islam. During an assembly in Lebanon, the Catholic patriarchs said their churches help make dialogue possible, and this link between religions should not be broken.
---CNS |