One of the people in the Vatican most familiar with the crisis in Iraq is Card. Leonardo Sandri, who leads the department responsible for Christians in the East.
He thinks the pope's visit to Iraq in March will mainly be a gesture toward Christians in the region who have suffered so much these last years.
In 2014, ISIS military men drove out thousands of Christians from their lands and burned down their houses. Very few have had the courage to return.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Prefect, Congregation for the Oriental Churches
“The Christian presence has been almost completely dismantled, with so many who have fled Iraq and are now on the outside.”
Estimates show that in 2003, there were 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. Now only about 150,000 remain.
Their unique “Way of the Cross” began after Saddam Hussein's fall. Their situation became a “martyrdom” on June 29, 2014, when ISIS announced the creation of the caliphate.
In a single day, on Aug. 6, between 100,000 and 120,000 Christians fled from the Nineveh plains.
The region was liberated in the spring of 2017. Three years later, 44 percent of the families have returned to the area, and 54 percent of homes have been rebuilt.
However, Card. Leonardo Sandri explains that war and violence have created a gap between the people, and that the pope will help them reconcile so they can coexist once more.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Prefect, Congregation for the Oriental Churches
“The pope's visit will promote this hope for coexistence between all human beings. Being children of God, they share the same dignity and are brothers and sisters.”
Iraq is a Muslim country, and the pope will undoubtedly meet with representatives of Islam.
A possible meeting with leader Ali al-Sistani, in Karbala, a holy city for Shiites, would be particularly significant.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Prefect, Congregation for the Oriental Churches
“The pope has never excluded encounters with Islam and its representatives on any of his trips. In Iraq, home to Shiites and Sunnis... Al-Sistani, the great Shiite leader venerated by the faithful, and the holy place of Karbala aren't on the agenda, but we never know until the last minute how this flexible schedule could change closer to the date.”
Preparations for the trip are in progress. For now, the Vatican spokesman says that from March 5 to 8, Pope Francis will visit Baghdad, the capital; Ur, in the land of Abraham; Mosul and Qaraqosh, the cities from which persecuted Christians fled; and Erbil, where they took refuge.
JMB
Translation: CT
