VATICAN - “Enough with the bloodshed, enough with the violence, enough with the hatred in Iraq! Beloved Iraqi people, lift up your heads and let it be you yourselves who, in the first place, rebuild your national life!”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The “beautiful witness of fidelity to Christ, to the Church and his people” of the late Chaldean Archbishop of Mossul, Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who met his tragic fatal end just days ago, moved Pope Benedict XVI “to cry out forcefully and with distress,” in the Angelus on Palm Sunday: “Enough with the bloodshed, enough with the violence, enough with the hatred in Iraq!.” Then, directing himself to the Iraqi people, who, “for five years have endured the consequences of a war that has provoked upheaval in its civil and social life,” he told them, “Beloved Iraqi people, lift up your heads and let it be you yourselves who, in the first place, rebuild your national life! May reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and respect for the civil coexistence of tribes, ethnic groups and religious groups be the solitary way to peace in the name of God!”
The Pontiff also sent out a special greeting to the many young people present in Saint Peter’s Square who had come from many countries from around the world, “on the occasion of the World Youth Day, which the beloved Servant of God John Paul II wanted to link with Palm Sunday.” The Pope continued: “In this moment my thoughts turn to Sydney, in Australia, where the preparations are under way for the great meeting that I will have with the young people of the whole world from July 15 to 20 of this year. I thank the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, and his collaborators in particular, for all the work that they are doing with such commitment. I am also grateful to the Australian federal and state officials for the generous support offered to this important initiative. See you in Sydney!” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 17/3/2008; righe 21, parole 295)