ASIA/IRAQ - Chaldean Patriarch Sako to Iraqi Christians: may the Pope's visit be for us a "return to the sources" of our missionary vocation

Thursday, 10 December 2020 middle east oriental churches pope francis mission ecumenicalism dialogue islam

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Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - The announced apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq will be a providential occasion for Iraqi Christians and the entire Middle East to make a "pilgrimage" of conversion and a "return to our original sources". For this reason, everyone must be vigilant so that this favorable circumstance does not pass "without leaving any traces in us, in our Church and in our country". This is emphasized by the Chaldean Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, in a message "to Christians and all Iraqis" in view of the visit that Pope Francis intends to make in Iraq from 5 to 8 March 2021 (see Fides, 7/12/2020).
The message of the Chaldean Patriarch, also sent to Agenzia Fides, contains a number of suggestions for actively experiencing the Pope's visit so that "the Church may return with greater enthusiasm to evangelical spiritual radicalism and closer to the people and serve them with generosity and joy, following the example of our fathers , our saints and our martyrs". Cardinal Sako acknowledges that "our Chaldean Church and the other sister Churches in Iraq and the Middle East are experiencing different political, economic and social pressures and challenges, , due to conflicts, extremism, emigration, the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic".
The difficulties and problems faced - notes the Chaldean Patriarch - saddened the hearts and clouded the eyes of many. But even in this situation - Cardinal Sako remarks - - it is better to use everything that can "return to the sources" of one's faith instead of retreating into being a victim and to complain. Only "by drawing on the sources" said the Patriarch - we can rediscover that "our existence as Christians in Iraq and the East is no coincidence", and not accept emigration as a fatal destiny, because "according to a divine plan we have a vocation and a mission. We must not give this up in spite of the difficulties. As shepherds, we must seek to continuously and openly understand the present situation".
To proclaim the Gospel, to testify to hope under the circumstances of the present and to remain "anchored in our oriental authenticity" is the real mission to which Christians in the Middle East are called. "As we live in the 21st century", said Cardinal Sako's message, "we need to understand how important it is to revise our theological and spiritual, liturgical and pastoral, ecumenical and pedagogical reflection and also to change our behavior as believers as consecrated servants called by the Lord to take care of his flock in a harmonious way, far from false concepts and the search for dominance and prestige".
According to Patriarch Sako, this horizon of the program is the only appropriate setting in which questions about the present and future of the Christian communities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East should be asked: "This", we read in the patriarchal message, "is our country, we cannot give it up, nor can we imagine it without its Christians". And the Christians of the Middle East can "remain" in the lands of their fathers only by rediscovering their common destiny with their compatriots, without separating their own path from the common path of reconciliation and the healing of common wounds.
What is dear to Patriarch Sako is the Church "of ecumenical dialogue with sister Churches", and a "Church of coexistence and dialogue with religions, especially with Islam". The Church, "which takes care of public affairs, to firmly support the legitimate expectations of the people for the elimination of injustices". Even in the tormented Middle East of our times - concludes the Chaldean Patriarch Sako in his message - Christians can live "as a sign of the presence of Christ's love, universal brotherhood and coexistence". (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 10/12/2020