Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Patriarch will preside at a Mass to be held in the
afternoon of April 26 in the Chaldean church of the Virgin Mary Queen of the
Rosary in Baghdad, during which a statue of John Paul II will be unveiled.
Mar
Louis was supposed to attend the canonization of the two Popes, which will be
held April 27 in Rome, but the security measures taken in Iraq during elections
involves the closure of airports.
"Everything
was ready for my journey to Rome for the canonization of Blessed John XXIII and
John Paul II" the Patriarch confided to Baghdadhope news agency, "but
unfortunately the elections to be held April 30 in Iraq will lead to the
closure of airports in the country between April 28-30 and it would be serious
for the Chaldeans not to have their Patriarch among them at such an important
time in national history. This is why we
have organized a local celebration in honor of the two new saints".
Moreover,
in view of the Iraqi elections, to be held April 30, the Chaldean patriarch had
asked that the following prayer be published and recited in churches throughout
the country during the Easter Vigil.
Lord, You
are our Creator and Father, we come to You in these difficult and critical
circumstances that our country is passing through, asking for Your Light and
Divine Providence as individuals, communities and Governments, so that
the next elections result for the good of Iraq and its people.
We ask You, Lord, to enlighten us to perform our electoral responsibilities with honesty and integrity, and to vote for our representatives and congressmen who are more capable of building our homeland and its safety, security and prosperity. O Lord of all, glory and praise be to You forever