Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mossul (Agenzia Fides) - This is a day of pain and grief for the Chaldean Church of Mossul and of all Iraq. Yesterday, the death of the Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mossul was confirmed. The Archbishop had been kidnapped on February 29 in the city immediately after presiding the Stations of the Cross. His body was found following a notification from his kidnappers and was presented to medical personnel to perform an autopsy determining the cause of death. The Church in Iraq and throughout the world has been left in shock, pain, and profound sorrow from the event, that has been unanimously condemned by government leaders, international institutions, Bishops’ Conferences, and Christian and non-Christians alike. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has also sent his condolences to Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad.
“The news has left us speechless,” said Bishop Francis Assisi Chullikat, Apostolic Nuncio in Jordan and Iraq. “Until yesterday we had hoped against all hope to receive good news.” “Archbishop Rahho,” the Nuncio said, “was a man of peace and dialogue, a link in relations between Christians and Muslims. And now the dialogue must continue.”
Today Iraqi Catholics will gather with their Bishop in grief and support. The funeral services for Archbishop Rahho will take place today, March 14, in the afternoon, in the Christian town of Kremlesh, as indicated by the Chaldean Bishop Rabban al-Qass of Erbil, in the presence of the leaders of the Chaldean Church, Bishops, and other groups of Christians present in Iraq, as well as Muslim leaders who have condemned the terrible act.
Kremlesh is becoming a symbolic site, linked to the martyrdom that many representatives, religious, and laity that have witnessed in recent years. Funeral services were held here as well for Fr. Ragheed Ghanni and three deacons, all of whom were murdered last year in Mossul (see Fides 4/6/2007), as well as the funerals of the three young men who accompanied Archbishop Rahho on the day of his kidnapping. The people will be under the protection of Iraqi and Kurd security forces, who will accompany the priests and Bishops coming from Kurdistan.
“May the martyrdom of Archbishop Rahho be a grace for Iraq and a step towards reconciliation. May this blood serve to create peace, because it is the blood of a man without guile, a man of faith,” said Fr. Philip Najim, Chaldean Patriarchate of Baghdad. “We hope that this will increase the awareness of the international community, leading them to take action in stopping this trail of blood and the masses of people that leave the country in search of peace and a normal life.” “Archbishop Rahho has died,” he said, “but the Church in Iraq is alive and continues its mission. We pray for Iraq, for our faithful, and for the Iraqi people. We also pray for the government, that they may fulfill their responsibility in protecting citizens. We ask the All-Powerful God for peace in Iraq.”
Messages of condolences have arrived from all over the globe. Caritas Internationalis has denounced the event, with hopes that “the death of the Bishop may be an opportunity to place an end to the violence and bring peace to Iraq.” The association of Aid to the Church in Need, that supports Iraqi Christian communities, recalled “the great sacrifices and sufferings of the people,” and said that, “the Iraqi Church has once again received the blessing of the blood of a new martyr who, going beyond the terrible human loss, will certainly produce abundant fruits, because its hope is based on the One who never fails.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/3/2008 righe 47, parole 597)
