Iraq: Christian leaders condemn attacks and call for peace
Baghdad, 7 Jan. (AKI) - The patriarch of the
Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and the
world, Emmanuel III Delly, has condemned
Sunday's terrorist attacks on several
churches and monasteries in Baghdad and
Mosul.
In an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI), Delly (Photo) expressed profound displeasure and stressed he felt the same sadness for "all the other places of worship, mosques, and places of prayer where God does not accept these inhumane actions".
Delly was recently named a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome.
The patriarch called for the government to exercise every effort to stop these attacks and similar disgraceful incidents that damage the reputation of Iraq.
He also asked those responsible to put an end to this kind of action "for the love of their Iraqi brothers and for the love of their country".
"We are all brothers and this means we should direct our thoughts to the reconstruction of our country, the land of Abraham," he said.
Emmanuel III refused to lay blame on one group in particular, recalling " the message of Jesus Christ who said 'love one another' and 'love your enemies', as if we have no enemies".
"We ask God to pardon them, because they do not know what they are doing. My message for all Iraqis is an invitation for a sincere mutual pardon," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, Faraj Rahho, described the attacks as a deep blow to the church in Iraq.
"We had rediscovered optimism and hope in a peaceful life during these holidays, but that was only the calm before the storm," he told Adnkronos International (AKI).
In a tone of deep suffering, Rahho said the events had revealed a predisposition to empty the region of Christians.
The bishop explained that "the situation had improved very much recently and people had returned to the churches, especially for the holidays, what happened yesterday was a major blow for us".
On Monday afternoon, the archbishop celebrated mass in the Church of San Paolo, struck for the second time on Sunday and for now is without doors or windows.
"Our prayers want to renew hope in the hearts of the parishioners and confirm our faith and our willingness to remain in this country," he said.
In an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI), Delly (Photo) expressed profound displeasure and stressed he felt the same sadness for "all the other places of worship, mosques, and places of prayer where God does not accept these inhumane actions".
Delly was recently named a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome.
The patriarch called for the government to exercise every effort to stop these attacks and similar disgraceful incidents that damage the reputation of Iraq.
He also asked those responsible to put an end to this kind of action "for the love of their Iraqi brothers and for the love of their country".
"We are all brothers and this means we should direct our thoughts to the reconstruction of our country, the land of Abraham," he said.
Emmanuel III refused to lay blame on one group in particular, recalling " the message of Jesus Christ who said 'love one another' and 'love your enemies', as if we have no enemies".
"We ask God to pardon them, because they do not know what they are doing. My message for all Iraqis is an invitation for a sincere mutual pardon," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, Faraj Rahho, described the attacks as a deep blow to the church in Iraq.
"We had rediscovered optimism and hope in a peaceful life during these holidays, but that was only the calm before the storm," he told Adnkronos International (AKI).
In a tone of deep suffering, Rahho said the events had revealed a predisposition to empty the region of Christians.
The bishop explained that "the situation had improved very much recently and people had returned to the churches, especially for the holidays, what happened yesterday was a major blow for us".
On Monday afternoon, the archbishop celebrated mass in the Church of San Paolo, struck for the second time on Sunday and for now is without doors or windows.
"Our prayers want to renew hope in the hearts of the parishioners and confirm our faith and our willingness to remain in this country," he said.