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May The Pope Come to Iraq in the Footsteps of Saint Francis, Says Patriarch Sako
Asia News ^ | 3/21/13

Posted on 03/22/2013 6:52:13 PM PDT by marshmallow

Mar Louis Raphael I Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Church, extends an invitation to the pontiff when the two met this morning in the Vatican. The Holy Father is moved by the suffering of Iraqi Christians. Dialogue with Muslims is a priority.

Roma (AsiaNews) - As Saint San Francis travelled to the East where he met Sultan Malik al-Kamil, so we hope Pope Francis "may come to Iraq to confirm us our faith and give our small community in the land of Abraham courage and hope," said His Beatitude Mar Louis Raphael I Sako during an audience with the pontiff this morning in the Vatican. "Yes," answered the pope, "with joy." The patriarch himself told AsiaNews about his meeting with the Holy Father before leaving this afternoon for Baghdad. The head of the Chaldean Church was in Rome for the pope's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square last Tuesday.

The prelate said that he was "struck by the pope's simplicity and spontaneity". He was very moved when the two talked about the tragic fate of Iraqi Christians.

"I stood before a father and a first-class pastor," the patriarch said. "When I told him that our land had to endure 950 martyrs and 57 churches attacked, he said: 'I feel pain for you.'"

Francis also asked him about his diocese, about vocations in his country, tormented by ten years of violence and conflict between Shias and Sunnis.

(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Islam; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture
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1 posted on 03/22/2013 6:52:13 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

It would be a brave act.

But there is a fine line between brave and stupid.


2 posted on 03/22/2013 7:03:21 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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