ASIA/IRAQ - Patriarch of the ancient Assyrian Church of the East in Iraq sends condolences to the Holy See - Iraqi Catholics also say John Paul II “A Saint Now! ”

Baghdad (Fides Service)- Patriarch Mar Addi II of the ancient Assyrian Church of the East in Iraq expressed his sympathy to the Catholic Church for the death of Pope John Paul II in a message of condolence to the Holy See. “The news of the death of the Holy Father brought great sadness to our soul, but we hope in the Resurrection. Pope John Paul II was a good disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and a good shepherd for the Catholic Church, and a point of reference for non Catholics and non Christians. His death is a loss for humanity. We are certain he is with the saints in the Kingdom of God because we believe in the Resurrection”.
In Baghdad and in Mosul, Christians held prayers for the dead Pope. In the church of St Joseph in Catholics and Orthodox prayed together. They said this was a good way to put the Pope’s teaching into practice. A local news agency ankawa.com published photographs of the funeral in St Peter’s in Rome with the title “A Saint Now!”.
(A.E.) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2005 17 righe parole).