Posted on 06/30/2014 5:30:56 AM PDT by ScottinVA
Pope Francis asked Iraq leaders to use dialogue to avoid further warfare there, during his weekly address in St. Peter's Square after Mass -- his first major public ceremony since health problems forced a spate of canceled appointments.
"The news from Iraq is unfortunately very saddening. I join the bishops from that country in calling on the rulers to preserve national unity and avoid war through dialogue," he said. "I express my closeness to the thousands of families, especially the Christian ones, who have had to leave their homes and are in serious danger. Violence generates more violence. Dialogue is the only path to peace. Let's pray to the Virgin Mary to look after the Iraqi people."
Francis appeared to hold up well during the more than 90-minute Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to honor Saints Peter and Paul.
The Vatican has played down the cancellations, including one last-minute on Friday because 77-year-old Francis had an unspecified "mild" health problem.
The Vatican has played down the cancellations, including one at the last minute on Friday, attributing them without elaboration to some mild health problem.
Francis, often chuckling, chatted with each of 24 archbishops kneeling before him to receive a white woolen band symbolizing shared episcopal power.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
He did say that violence begets violence (which is true) AND called for prayers, but I think that he would have been better served to call for the world to pray that the ISIS militants receive peace in their hearts. I'd prefer he called for prayers for conversion.
Jesuits are a bit of a challenging group overall.
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 16:12)
Islam has amply demonstrated it cannot dwell peaceably with those within its ranks, unless a strong hand keeps them in check, and usually under a more secular government.
There has never been national unity within Iraq, and unity itself is not the goal, but unity in Truth, ultimately in submission to Christ. And to the degree that any country can obey the light they have which can lead to Christ, this requires victory over those who most reject it by the form of Islam that is most conducive to souls coming to Christ. Maybe favoring moderate Kurds would be best.
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