(December 23, 2010) Due to the ongoing violence against Iraqi Christians, Christmas
Eve midnight Mass has been cancelled, and the Church has taken on an attitude of sobriety
instead of festivity. Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk explained that due
to security concerns, the midnight Mass will not take place in Baghdad, Mosul and
Kirkuk. Also for security reasons, the churches will not be decorated, he noted,
and Masses will be "sombre" and held during the day. "A sense of sadness and mourning
prevails among Christians," the prelate reported, due to the October 31 massacre in
the Syrian Catholic cathedral of Baghdad and the ongoing violence. "No one expects
anything from the government as far as protecting Christians," he stated. "Political
leaders are too caught up in setting up a new administration." Despite this, Archbishop
Sako said, "Christmas brings a message of hope." "For us in Iraq," he added, "Christmas
is a time of hope and joy as well as pain and martyrdom."