March 22, 20123 - The Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church based in Iraq has
invited Pope Francis to visit his country. "I invited him to visit us in Iraq. The
pontiff said he looks forward to visiting our country, which is also where Abraham
began his journey. His visit would inspire us with courage and hope," Chaldean Patriarch
Louis Raphael I Sako told AsiaNews after meeting the Pope on Thursday in the Vatican.
He said he invited him to confirm them in their faith. The prelate said he was "struck
by the pope's simplicity and spontaneity" and concern for the tragic fate of Iraqi
Christians. "When I told him that our land had to endure 950 martyrs and 57 church
attacks, he said: 'I feel pain for you,’” the Patriarch said. Pope Francis enquired
about Patriarch Sako’s diocese and vocations in Iraq, that is tormented by ten years
of violence and conflict between Shias and Sunnis. The Holy Father urged prayers
for himself, and the two ended their meeting by praying the Our Father and Hail Mary
for Iraq. (Source: AsiaNews)