Chaldean Patriarch and Grand Mufti: Christians and Muslims together for Peace in Iraq
Baghdad, Feb 7, 2014: A "courtesy" visit to strengthen relations of friendship and
"brotherhood" between the Christian and Muslim communities, as well as to "broaden"
the foundations of “joint action" to achieve the goal of a "lasting peace" in the
country. This was the spirit that animated the meeting between the Chaldean Patriarch
Mar Louis Raphael I Sako and Sheikh Rafi Taha Al- Rifai, the Grand Mufti of Iraq at
the residence of Muslim religious leader in Sulayamaniyya, the capital of the governorate
of al- Sulaymaniyya, Iraqi Kurdistan.
The meeting dates back to Jan. 31 , but
details only recently emerged on the official website of the Chaldean Patriarchate,
describing the atmosphere of the face-to- face meeting between the two religious leaders
and common objectives that were set. The Christian delegation also included the Apostolic
Nuncio in Iraq Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, the auxiliary bishop Msgr. Shlemon Warduni
and the three new recently ordained bishops of the Chaldean Church.
His Beatitude
briefed the Islamic leader on the sufferings of the Christian community, past and
present, also stressing "the common task” of religious leaders, of "sacrifice, dialogue
and mutual understanding” and action aimed at "the common good" and "charity " as
prescribed by "the dictates of Islam and Christianity". Violence adds Mar Sako, does
not solve problems, "but it is a harbinger of further violence."
The Patriarch
spoke of the drama "of the exodus of Christians" and the "pain" experienced during
the visit to "reception centers in Kirkuk and Erbil” in northern Iraq. He finally
appealed to "our Muslim brothers, Sunnis and Shiites, to judge wisely the current
reality" and promote "mutual coexistence and harmony".
Sheikh Rafi Taha Al-
Rifai thanked Mar Sako and the Christian delegation for the courtesy visit and stressed
from the beginning of his speech, the central value "of the person”, an element common
to both religions. The Sunni leader described relations between Muslims and Christians
as "good", characterized by "sharing" with one another even though today there are
elements that foment “divisions".
The meeting between the two religious leaders
is a strong signal in the direction of peace in a country often torn by violence and
that in these first weeks of 2014 has already reached a level of serious concern.
Hundreds have died since the beginning of the year, in a series of bloody attacks;
tension has now reached the levels of 2005/6: in 2013 the official death toll was
8,868.