Pope Celebrates Suffrage Mass for Iraqi Archbishop

(17 Mar 08 -RV) Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a Mass of Suffrage for the late Archbishop of Mosul of the Chaldeans in Iraq, Paolos Faraj Rahho.

The Archbishop was found dead in his city this past Thursday, two weeks after being kidnapped.

Chris Altieri reports...


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In his homily, Pope Benedict remembered the Bishops, priests and all the faithful in Iraq, who suffer, believe and pray.

The Holy Father offered them a heartfelt word of encouragement, and said he trusts that in the faith, they will find strength, that they will not lose heart as they live through their present difficulties.

The Pope went on to say the reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah that was proclaimed during the Liturgy of the Word, spoke of the Servant of the Lord, who shall bring Right and Justice to the nations, with such insistence that it cannot be ignored.

In the passion of the Lord, said Pope Benedict, we see the fulfilment of this mission, when the Lord, in the face of his unjust condemnation, bears witness to truth, remaining true to the law of love.

The Pope said Archbishop Rahho took up his cross and walked this same path, and so helped to bring right and justice to his martyred country and to the whole world.

Pope Benedict prayed that the example of Archbishop Rahho might sustain all Iraqis of good will, Christians and Muslims, in their efforts to achieve a peaceful co-existence, founded on the brotherhood of man and on mutual respect.

I'm Chris Altieri