(24 Jan 09 - RV) Pope Benedict appealed to Iraqi authorities to defend the civil rights
of Christians in Iraq. Saturday, asking them to protect the Christian community there
from relentless violence.
The bishops from the Chaldean Catholic Church, born
in Iraq almost two thousand years ago gathered around their Pope Saturday, presenting
him with the stole that belonged to Fr. Ragheed Ganni, murdered together with three
deacons in the city of Mosul on March 13th 2008 as he emerged from saying
mass, and the chasuble of Archbishop Paolus Faraj Rahoo, also of Mosul found dead
in abandoned land 14 days after he was abducted from his diocese and his people.
Two gifts that greatly move the Pope, who said they showed these men’s profound
love for their faith, their people and their country, even to the point of death.
His reflection on these two “martyrs” was accompanied by a renewed appeal
for greater protection for Iraq’s Christian community too often the scapegoat of senseless
violence and now increasingly isolated by the social majority.
“I salute their
courage” he said, “their perseverance in the face of threats and trials. The witness
they give is a sign of their strength and faith and of their hope”.
Pope Benedict
asked the bishops to help their people to overcome current difficulties and to make
their presence felt within their local communities, he appealed to the governing authorities
to see that the rights of Christians are upheld, and he appealed to Iraq’s Christian
men and women to love their nation.
“The Christians who live in Iraq” reaffirmed
the Pope “are full citizens with the same rights and obligations as everyone, without
the distinction of religion”.
He ask that the “men and women of peace in this
region join together to put an end to violence and allow everyone to live in shared
security and understanding”.
Finally the Pope exhorted the Iraqi bishops to
greater unity, to a practise of the liturgy that follows the orientations of Vatican
II and to safeguard the spiritual life of the great Iraq Diaspora.