IRAQ-ITALY Archbishop of Kirkuk appeals to the Church and Italy

22 May, 2013

YOUR DONATION

Geographic areas

e-mail this to a friend

printable version

» 11/20/2010 10:30
IRAQ-ITALY
Archbishop of Kirkuk appeals to the Church and Italy
by Msgr Louis Sako
Archbishop Louis Sako appeals for solidarity from brothers and sisters in the West. Since 2005, 900 Christians have been killed, among them five priests and the archbishop of Mosul, 52 churches have been attacked. A message for the Italian Church on the eve of a day of prayer and solidarity with the persecuted Christians of Iraq, wanted by the Italian Bishops' Conference.

Kirkuk (AsiaNews) - "Do not leave us alone in this time of tribulation" is the appeal that the archbishop of Kirkuk, Msgr. Louis Sako, has sent to AsiaNews for publication in Italy on the eve of a day of prayer and solidarity for Christians in Iraq, wanted by the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI). Tomorrow, in all the parishes in Italy there will be moments of prayer for persecuted Christians and especially for Christians in Iraq. The Day also aims to raise awareness in Italy and Europe, so they may double their efforts toward Iraq. Yesterday Cardinal. Angelo Bagnasco, president of CEI, spoke to AsiaNews, saying that “Italy and Europe cannot look away because what is at stake is religious freedom, which is the basis for all other forms of freedom".

In his appeal, supported by other Iraqi bishops, Msgr. Sako reveals that "since 2005, 900 Christians have been killed, among them five priests and the archbishop of Mosul, 52 churches attacked. Many families have been forced to leave their homes and flee to save their children and their Christian faith. " Here is the appeal sent by Msgr. Sako to AsiaNews:

Appeal to our brothers and sisters in Italy

Our people in Iraq today are persecuted, threatened and suffer martyrdom. Since 2005, 900 Christians have been killed, among them five priests and the archbishop of Mosul, 52 churches attacked. Many families have been forced to leave their homes and flee to save their children and their Christian faith.

We are ready to do everything to preserve our faith and our loyalty to Christ. We are conscious that martyrdom is the charism of our Church. This is what gives us the strength to stay and persevere.

Our ordeal is heavy and seems long. The carnage that took place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad on October 31 has profoundly shaken us.

We are losing patience, but not faith or hope. We need the prayers and moral support and fellowship of our Christian brothers and sisters of the West. Without their support and solidarity we feel alone and isolated. Do not leave us alone in this time of tribulation. Our journey can continue with your help and your prayers.

+Louis Sako

Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk

e-mail this to a friend

printable version

11/22/2010 IRAQ
After the attacks on Christians in Baghdad, 40 families emigrate North
by Layla Yousif Rahema

08/29/2009 IRAQ
In Kirkuk Christian and Muslim leaders for dialogue and reconciliation

01/04/2011 IRAQ
Muslim solidarity towards Iraqi Christians
by Layla Yousif Rahema

10/13/2009 IRAQ
Archbishop of Kirkuk: for 1600 years, Iraq has been a "country of martyrs"

Editor's choices

CHINA
Chinese scholar calls for CP reform, warns the PRC will go the Soviet way

For Zhang Xien, a professor at Shandong University, 20 per cent of the CP's 83 million members are old, sick and "unable to toe the party line". At least 32 million should be encouraged to leave. The scholar addresses the dangerous issue in an article published by a biweekly magazine published by the People's Daily, the party's mouthpiece. He wants better entry requirements to weed out potentially bad officials.

VATICAN
Pope to Movements: The action of the Spirit is newness, harmony, mission

At Mass for Pentecost, along with movements and lay associations, Francis asks believers not close in on themselves for fear the 'God’s surprises', defending ourselves " barricaded in transient structures which have lost their capacity for openness." The harmony of the Spirit brings unity, not exclusivism or standardization. "The Holy Spirit ... saves us from the threat of a Church which is gnostic and self-referential, closed in on herself" and " drive us to the very outskirts of existence in order to proclaim life in Jesus Christ." The final thanks of the Pope: "You are a gift and a treasure for the Church."

VATICAN
Growth in number of Catholics worldwide, number of priests and seminarians also increase

The data from the Statistical Yearbook of the Church. The faithful of Rome have passed, from 1196 in 2010 to 1214 million in 2011, up 1.5%. Asia remains a religiously vibrant continent: number of faithful and priests rise, as do the number of professed religious who are not priests, seminarians, and in contrast to the world's data, the number of nuns.

Dossier

The Year of Faith and the martyrdom of Fr Fausto Tentorio

John Paul II is beatified

[Show all dossier]

Al-Ghazâlî - Pensatore e maestro spirituale

by Paolo Nicelli

pp. 136

Fatto per andare lontano. Clemente Vismara

by Piero Gheddo

pp. 504

La Mangrovia Una donna, due anime

by Claire Ly

pp. 160

Augusto Colombo. Apostolo dei paria

by Piero Gheddo

pp. 320

Matteo Ricci: missione e ragione. Una biografia intellettuale

by Gianni Criveller

pp. 132

Matteo Ricci e Giulio Aleni, due vite incrociate

by Giulio Aleni / (a cura di) Gianni Criveller

pp. 176

La Cina di Mao processa la Chiesa

by Lazzarotto Angelo S.

pp. 528

Il Rovescio delle medaglie

by Bernardo Cervellera

pp. 240

Piero Gheddo: Il vescovo partigiano – Mons. Aristide Pirovano

by Piero Gheddo

pp. 454

2003 © All rights reserved - Autogestione contenuti di AsiaNews C.F. e P.Iva: 00889190153 - GLACOM®
Copyright © 2003 AsiaNews C.F. 00889190153 All rights reserved. Content on this site is made available for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, republish, sell or otherwise distribute the content or any modified or altered versions of it without the express written permission of the editor. Photos on AsiaNews.it are largely taken from the internet and thus considered to be in the public domain. Anyone contrary to their publication need only contact the editorial office which will immediately proceed to remove the photos.