Baghdad (AsiaNews) – "It is a day of celebration and a day that will not be easily forgotten. The government of Iraq is back in the hands of Iraqis." The Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholics Emmanuel Delly is pleased that the transfer of power to the provisional government of Iraq has taken place. He invites AsiaNews to relay his message: "We still need the support of the international community, the UN, and your prayers. Iraqis are one single family: Chaldeans, Shiites, Sunnis, Zoroastrians, etc. But we need you to build the peace in Iraq." Thanking "all those who cooperated in this task," Monsignor Delly adds that "of all those who helped, Iraqis will never forget the Pope for what he has done for Iraq."

Reached by telephone in Baghdad, Monsignor Delly said to AsiaNews: "We are pleased that power has been transferred to its rightful owners, that is to say to the citizens of Iraq. They want to govern themselves and are capable of doing it. We thank the Lord that this day has arrived without incidents, two days ahead of time. It is an unforgettable day . . . All Iraqis are happy. Of course, there are some who are violent and who will create difficulties, but we hope that sooner or later they will realise that all this is for the greater good of the Iraqi people. We still do not know whether the security situation will improve, but we are optimistic.

I want to thank all those who have lent a helping hand in reaching this goal, a goal that Iraqis wanted so much. We thank each and everyone for what they have done and are doing. Rebuilding a country like ours, devastated after so many years of conflict, still requires the support of all countries in the world and of the United Nations.

Yet, our priority must be in rebuilding the soul and spirit of those who have suffered and suffer still. For this reason, my main thoughts are not only that we must have the material aid and the support of the world community but also that we pray that God give us the peace, serenity and security that have eluded us so far. For this, we beseech the Lord and plead with those He has touched.

I ask you to pray for Iraq and the Iraqi people. I ask you wholeheartedly that the Lord accompany us. God loves Iraq; He loves this great people since the times of Abraham. Just yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. She helped us in the past and she will help us face our future difficulties. We hope that all the prayers in the world will help us. Of all those who helped, Iraqis will never forget the Pope and what he did for us.

I also want to thank our dear Italian friends, who are so open to the world. We need everyone's help, including that of the military, each one with his responsibilities. The Iraqi people form one family: Chaldeans, Shiites, Sunnis, Yazidis, Zoroastrians, etc. But we need you to build the peace in Iraq. And we must not forget that peace must be brought not only to Iraq but also to the rest of the world, to Palestine, to Africa . . . We are one family, and God is our Father, and the Church is our mother.