ASIA/IRAQ - Patriarch Sako calls for a vital "new birth" for Mosul, where Christian homes have become landfills

Friday, 25 January 2019 middle east oriental churches jihadists

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IRAQ

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Mosul (Agenzia Fides) - The Iraqi metropolis of Mosul struggles to return to the situation prior to the jihadist occupation, and the difficulties particularly affect the Christian component. The hoped-for return of the Christians who had left the city in the years of jihadist dominion continues at a pace that is anything but intense. And in recent days, Iraqi media such as ankawa.com have documented the degradation of an urban area, once inhabited by Christians, in a real pile of rubble turned into a landfill (see photo). In this context, Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako went to Mosul to participate in the installation of Dominican Najb Mikhael Moussa as the new Chaldean Archbishop of the archdiocese, and on this occasion he wanted to encourage and invoke the "rebirth" of the city, also putting its new Archbishop "in the hands of the local Christian and Muslim community". The success of the Bishop - said the Chaldean Patriarch in his speech during the inauguration ceremony of the new Archbishop on Friday 25 January - depends on the unity of his diocese, for the shepherd is for all rather than to one person or another".
The Patriarch stressed that discrimination, selectivity and factionalism "destroys the community". The Primate of the Chaldean Church, aware "of the difficulties of the devastated Diocese of Mosul and at the same time, is sure "you will be able to deepen the joy of liberation, establish the hope of returning as well as building trust and coexistence between diverse components of Mosul society".
"Mosul", added the Chaldean Patriarch in his speech, sent to Agenzia Fides "is unique for its’ multicultural and diverse society. Similarly, the Church and Christians, in Mosul particularly, contributed to the history of this city nationally, culturally and professionally". Also for this reason Patriarch Sako, created Cardinal by Pope Francis, concluded his intervention with the prayer "may God bless Mosul with a vital "new birth". (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 25/1/2019)