Baghdad (AsiaNews) – "I give my heartfelt thanks to the Holy Father for his message to the Iraqi people; the Pope has always cared greatly for this land, from the onset of the war with Iran to today". The Catholic Chaldean Patriarch, Emmanuel Delly, reaffirms yet again for AsiaNews the Pope's solicitude and love for Iraq: a love that embraces, in particular, the general public and those who suffer.

"The Holy Father," Monsignor Delly stresses, "loves this land and we reciprocate his love, remembering him always in our prayers. Every day in addressing the Lord, we pray that he gives the Holy Father the health and strength to continue his efforts in promoting peace: a peace not only for Iraq, but that embraces the Middle East in its entirety".

Registration for the January vote has begun: an important milestone for the country's peace process...

My hope is that January will be a cornerstone for the construction of peace and security in Iraq. The situation in Iraq is not good, as we are passing through a long and dark tunnel.  Let's hope that the Lord empowers those who can lead the country to peace and security. We will do all that is possible to reach this goal.

Even the religious leader Al Sistani has stressed the importance of the January elections.

Everyone wants the elections. This is why we pray that the Lord touches the mind of those who do not want peace in Iraq.  We ask also that everyone prays and stands by the people of Iraq who suffer.

Is it important for Christians to remain in Iraq and vote?

We must not refer just to Christians because they are, above all, Iraqi citizens.  Christians and Muslim share the same fate. There is but one nation, one homeland for us all.  When a bomb explodes, it makes no distinction among faiths, it hits everyone equally.

Thus the election is of fundamental importance for all of Iraq...

I ask that everyone prays for peace and freedom...as for going to vote, that's a matter of free choice for everyone. (DS)