Iraqi Archbishop: more military expertise needed in Iraq

(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Bashar Warda of Irbil, in northern Iraq, is calling for Western and Arab nations to give more military expertise to the Iraqi army to stem the violence and to ensure the survival of the dwindling Christian community in his country. The Chaldean Archbishop said current military support is not enough to defeat Islamic State, known as Daesh in Arabic. The plight of the displaced Christians who were forced to flee their homes when the I.S. militants overran large areas of northern Iraq last summer is a major concern for Archbishop Warda. He told Vatican Radio that at least 13,000 Christian families were displaced from their towns and villages in the Nineveh Plains and the Catholic Church is doing all it can to try to meet their needs.

Archbishop Warda spoke with us from London, where he is in talks with government officials, as well as representatives from the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations.  

Listen to the full interview: