Kirkuk (AsiaNews) – A group of seven Sunni and Shia imams, who attended Easter mass celebrated by Mgr Louis Sako in Kirkuk’s cathedral, sent Easter greetings to the Pope, “who never tires to work for peace and the good of humanity.” The Muslim clergymen (see photo) also spoke about brotherhood between Christians and Muslims and prayed that God may give Iraq security and peace.

In greeting them at the beginning of the ceremony, Mgr Sako stressed those elements that bring Christianity and Islam close to one another and invited all those present to respect diversity because it responds to the “divine economy.” “God,” he said, “created us different in order to meet us and in the end arrive at the final purpose which is God Himself.” For the bishop every imam and clergyman has a responsibility to express words that are good and that people can appreciate.

Easter gave many Muslims the opportunity to visit the Chaldean bishop to convey their greetings, perhaps more so than Christians this year, starting with the city’s governor and council. Other religious leaders and tribal chiefs came to the Bishop’s Residence as well, as did representatives of Sunni, Shia, Kurdish, Arab and Turcoman parties. They were joined by students, teachers and the principal from a girls’ high school, and by journalists and correspondents for local and international news agencies.

Bishop Sako thanked everyone for their special gesture and expressed hope that Iraq and its people may find harmony and security. He urged all Iraqis, whatever their origins and ideas, to build stronger ties, and prayed to the Lord to help Kirkuk remain a city symbol of brotherhood and coexistence.

During Holy Week Kirkuk saw some signs of hope. A Lebanese-Iraqi friendship group arrived on Palm Sunday on the initiative of the Antelias-based Oriental Research Study Centre, whose members were warmly welcomed by Mgr Sako and local faithful.

The theme of the week-long visit was ‘No to violence’ and ‘Yes to the Olive Branch of peace,’ at every cost.

The group divided into two, one party going to the Mosul area and the other staying at the Chaldean Bishop’s Residence.

Liturgical celebrations in all of Kirkuk’s churches focused on hope against disillusion, the role and importance of the Church in Iraq, cradle of our Fathers in faith, and on Mesopotamia’s contribution to peace.

Churches were filled to capacity with people as the faithful listened attentively and enthusiastically to words that explained their role as builders of peace, convinced that peace and unity can come from within even though outsiders have no interest in it.