Christmas revives hope of Iraqi people, Chaldean Patriarch says
Iraq, 21 December 2013: Christmas comes to “revive hope within us,” the Chaldean Catholic
Patriarch Louis Rapael I Sako says in his Christmas message.
The Iraqi prelate,
who is celebrating the 1st Christmas since his selection to lead the Chaldean Catholic
Church, will formally release his message on Christmas Day, but shared the text in
advance with the AsiaNews service.
At Christmas, the Patriarch said, Christians
and Muslims alike are called to “come out of the state of conflict, fighting, worry,
fear and poverty, to promote together for the consolidation of peace and brotherhood,
justice and equality among all citizens.” He urged the people of Iraq to “deal with
everyone alike respecting their rights and freedoms and diversity.”
The message
of Christmas for the people of Iraq, and for all the Middle East, is the same, the
Patriarch said: “No life without love, and no salvation except through unity.” Source:
CWN