Pope laments killing of Iraqi priest

(April 07, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI has lamented the killing of an Iraqi priest during a drive-by shooting in Baghdad, the latest attack on Iraq's Christian community. Fr. Adel Yousif of the Syrian Orthodox Church was killed on Saturday near his home in central Baghdad's Karrada district. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a condolence message on behalf of the Pontiff saying the Pope “prays that all people will follow the ways of peace in order to build a just and tolerant society in the beloved land of Iraq." In the message addressed to Mar Saverius Jamil Hawa, the Syro-Orthodox bishop of Baghdad, the Holy Father assured the local Church of his “nearness in prayer entrusting the soul of the devoted servant to the infinite mercy of God. Speculation surrounding the murder links it to Father Adel's involvement in interreligious dialogue. The priest was the director of an integrated school attended by Christians and Muslims of both sexes. Last month, Iraq's Christians mourned a Chaldean Catholic archbishop, Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, who was kidnapped by gunmen and later found dead. It was not clear how the archbishop, who was known to suffer from poor health, had died.