Pope Francis in Iraq: a generous welcome

Papa Francesco in Iraq: a generous welcome.. It had been exactly since 1999 that Iraq had been waiting for the pope's visit to bring the faith now devastated by the political and cultural situation of the country. Fraternal coexistence: this is the objective that Pope Francis relies on.

A generous welcome and the closeness to Christians and to all of Iraq, this is what has been going on since the pope's visit to that country. As father tells Karam Najeeb Yousif Shamasha the priest of the Chaldean Church in Telskuf in the Nineveh Plain, where the Pope was on Sunday, claims that they suffered so much pain in terms of violence, especially during the siege by of Isis.

These are the words reported: We are experiencing this visit as a closeness that the Holy Father wants to show us. We are few ... we are not many here in Iraq, we are a very small minority, with the desire to be close even to those further away: this is already a very precious thing for us. And we are lucky because the Holy Father has not traveled for about a year, and then, already the fact that he has chosen our country: this is already a very significant thing for us, and we want to welcome him with all our heart: in our hearts first even than in our territory.

Pope Francis in Iraq: what are the difficulties of Iraqis?

Pope Francis in Iraq: what they are the difficulties of the Iraqis? let's say that in recent years the country has faced many obstacles. All this they are facing with difficulty, not only for a security speech due to Covid-19, but for political and economic problems. There are many people who have not received a salary for months now. In spite of everything. this visit, by Pope Francis, comes as a light in the total darkness that is around them.

Finally, Father Karam Najeeb Yousif adds: In this land, in the Nineveh Plain, our suffering has lasted for years… For example, in my country, before the arrival of IS, we had about 1450 families. Now there are only 600/650 left: about half of the families are already abroad. Here, in all of Iraq, there are more or less 250 thousand faithful. Thanks be to God, the presence of Christians in the Nineveh Plain has slowly returned.

In Iraq since 2017, families have slowly returned and started building their houses again. This was partly possible thanks to the help of the Church, which helped around the world, especially to build the houses that had been destroyed. Christians all over the world have helped build not only houses but also churches. Pope Francis hopes this journey will bring some peace to everyone's hearts.

The prayer of Holy Father, this country and the people who live there accompany them. Not only Christians embrace the Pope, but the whole country as a sign of consensus respect e gratitudeis. In this world of different cultures, peoples and faiths, everyone has suffered a little. The most important thing is peaceful coexistence, as Pope Francis suggests founded on communication and on the faith, with the help of prayers.