Mar Louis Raphael I Sako

In an open letter addressed to "all men of good will and those who care for the Iraqi nation", Mar Sako reminds Muslim brothers that the actions of the self-styled Islamic State are contrary to the Koran and greatly damage the shared history all Iraqis of commitment for the nation. "We shared good memories and bad memories, mixing our blood for our land." The invitation to Christians to "calculate their options well, come together in love gathering around their church, being patient, enduring and praying until the storm passes".

In a note to AsiaNews, Mar Sako highlights the country's terrible situation: millions of refugees and no news about the two nuns and three children kidnapped in Mosul. Civil war and partition are increasingly possible. Too concerned about oil, politicians have failed to provide an answer. The patriarch calls on Christians to pray.

The Chaldean Patriarch reminds faithful that "Jesus is the heart " of Easter, "the center of our faith," his resurrection "makes the sun rise" on Iraq and the whole of humanity . His Beatitude exhorts the faithful to come together and pray. Ahead of the upcoming general election, he appeals for a leader who embodies the values of freedom , dignity and social justice .

The wars in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have made things worse for their peoples, especially minorities. As Western policies have been a failure, fundamentalism has grown with the Arab Spring losing out to extremism. Muslim authorities have a role in protecting rights and religious freedom. The presence of Christians in the Middle East is crucial for Muslims.

In his message to the faithful for Ash Wednesday, his Beatitude Mar Raphael I Louis Sako calls for genuine political and social "reconciliation". Addressing government leaders, he calls on them to establish "sound rules" for interaction and exchange. He finally calls for a renewed commitment to "building bridges" with "our Muslim brothers."

On his first Christmas as patriarch, Mar Raphael Louis Sako I will address the Christians of Iraq, the Middle East and the Diaspora, pointing out that the face of the Child Jesus is a source of wellness and prosperity, for our "Muslim brothers" too. Priests and the faithful must turn churches into "real grottoes," enlivened by the love and warmth of the faith.

In his message to the faithful during Advent, His Beatitude calls for "courage" and "perseverance", following the example of Abraham. He urges the faithful to keep the faith alive, even amid "suffering, anxiety and the considerable challenges." He also calls on "fellow" Muslims to join and be part of a true "peace project" for the country.

His Beatitude Mar Raphael Luis Sako , patriarch of Baghdad , sends some guidelines to the politicians involved in the elections in Kurdistan , scheduled for September 21 . The prelate sees defense of the rights of Christians and of the unity of the Iraqi people as the main requirements for stability. He also invites the rich of the community to invest in the country to create jobs and to prevent the exodus of Christians.

His Beatitude Mar Raphael Louis Sako I sends a message to the Islamic community at the start of the holy month of fasting and prayer. He hopes it will be a time for doing good and for reconciliation in a country ravaged by ten years of war and violence. Patriarch calls for dialogue in order to create "one community" in the "diversity" of its various components.