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saint-adday/
Patriarch
Louis Raphael Sako
On
Christmas, the angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2/14). This is a title for a real and
long-term project, achieved by Jesus Christ and should be accomplished in the
heart of every one of us to prevail peace in the world. This heavenly project
is the only hope to change our fears and worries resulted from; terrorism and
wars; as well as the economic deterioration and the deadly comprehensive arms
racing.
1.
Hope of Iraqis
After declaring the triumph over ISIS and the termination of terrorist control
on Mosul and other Iraqi cities that have been invaded since June 2014, Iraqis
hope is to look at this victory as a firm step forward to: attain security and
stability; deal with the consequences that affected the general
situation; put things at the right track; consolidate the foundations of true
citizenship; resolve outstanding matters in a peaceful ways and through
dialogue especially the "Kurdistan file"; eliminate corruption; get
rid of the widespread religious discrimination; reform the current legal,
political, social, educational, and economical matters by changing it
radically; and to schedule elections on time.
Accomplishing
this hope will create sort of certainty among Iraqis; escalate the credibility
of the Iraqi government; and unite Iraqis under one national roof in spite of
their different affiliations, as soon as their homes are restored and the
liberated towns got reconstructed. This is a “big” challenge that we need to
encounter reaching out to this “New Phase” based on fundamental principles.
2.
Hope of Christians
As a result of discrimination against Christians, threat, abduction and
expulsion from their homes in Nineveh Plain by ISIS, nearly half of their
population migrated (over 1.5 million people before 2003). Hence, the
liberation of Christian areas oblige the Iraqi Government “as a foster mother
for all” to work seriously for; facilitating the return of Christian to their
homes and properties; preserving their rights as indigenous citizens;
recognizing their culture, civilization and heritage as an essential part of
Iraq's history; and preventing demographic changes in their historical
geographic areas.
Nevertheless,
the time has come for Christians to learn lessons from the past to get rid of
their fears, pessimism and personal interests that divided them; clarify their
visions, approaches, and unite their stances in order to consolidate their
presence and their role in the public affairs and political process in a
genuine national partnership away from dependency and custody. This way,
Christians will be able to build their homeland, their future, hand in hand
with their fellow Muslims, since the future cannot be built without tolerance
and coexistence and as long as our strength is in such a mosaic beautiful
fabric of Iraq. So, let us move to the path of hope together.
Also,
it is time for Christians to communicate with their citizens and with the
Church that embraced and supported them during this tragedy by informing the
international community about their situation. In addition, the church is
encouraging Christians always to hold onto their hope and return to their
towns. This is our homeland and we insist to remain here.
3. Role of the Church
The Church in Iraq must read the signs of the times; renew its commitment to
the Gospel and to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ; also to be directed by
the frequent calls of Pope Francis in deepening the spiritual relationship away
from the tendency to power and money; make genuine initiatives towards
unity; spread the good news in the society; and reform the religious
discourse so that it goes beyond the traditional and formal style to come up as
a meaningful and influential speech. Above all, the Chruch should follow the footsteps
of Jesus Christ towards the needy, displaced and sick in order to provide them
with the possible care. The Church has also to involve the lay people in a
wider range of responsibilities through the pastoral councils, the parishes and
groups of service. They are all members of the Church since they have been
baptized "given a royal priesthood" that makes them partners.
In
regards to Muslims, an honest dialogue is a MUST, to understand the truth of
each side and accept it, especially that the Vatican Council II, in 1965, paved
the way for this kind of dialogue by stating: "The Church looks with
respect to the Muslims who worship the one God, the living, the mighty, the
Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth…" (statement on the relationship
of the Church with the Islamic religion … article 3). This kind of dialogue
must go beyond the formalities and put more effort on those with good will in
order to establish peace and security as well as promoting the values of
tolerance, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
In
conclusion, I urge the Christians to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian
people, who have been suffering from injustice and displacement for 70 years. I
also call on them today to pray for Jerusalem to remain a holy city for
Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Merry
Christmas and a happy new year
Baghdad
19 December 2017
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