Baghdad (AsiaNews) – "We have all the resources to live in our country, but we need to exploit them in safety," this according to Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel Delly. "We hope", the prelate said, "that the meeting [between Prime Allawi and the Pope] will have a "positive impact on all Iraqis" as well as "those responsible for all the violence". For this reason, the meeting was important in his opinion. Patriarch Delly took the occasion to extend his best wishes to the Holy Father on his "name-day".
Here's Patriarch Delly's interview with AsiaNews:
What prospects are opened with Allawi's visit to the Pope?
I hope that the meeting will have a positive impact on the government, the Iraqi people and those responsible for all the violence. We must work together for the good of Iraq. The government wants to morally and socially rebuild the country in all its parts. The Holy Father is concerned about the needs of all his sons and daughters and backs the work of all those who are fighting and struggling for Iraq's rebirth.
How significant is the Pope's commitment to Iraq?
We deeply respect the Holy Father. He is doing everything possible to restore peace, security and tranquillity in the country. We owe this to him and must repay him in our prayers and invocations. Through our prayers we ask the Lord every day to give him the strength and good health he needs to continue his apostolic work in the world. And today is a special day for it is the Holy Father's name-day and we pray especially for him.
What is the situation in Iraq now?
The only certain thing we have now is that sun rises and then goes down. What is really happening is beyond our grasp. People are scared and really want peace.
But do people want to remain in Iraq?
Of course! All we want is security and peace. Iraq has everything else. We have all the resources to live in our country, but we need to exploit them in safety. (DS)
