MOSUL, KOMPAS.com – Pope Francis say a prayer on Mosul, one of the communities Kristen oldest destroyed world ISIS.
Surrounded by the ruins of the Church of Al-Tahera (Immaculate Conception), the Pope asked Christians to come Iraq as well as the Middle East remain in their land.
The Argentine pontiff said the “tragic” exodus from the war-torn region was not only detrimental to them, but also to the people.
Also read: Pope Francis to Visit Iraqi Christians Suffering Under ISIS
ISIS atrocities forced hundreds of thousands of Christians in Nineveh Province to flee.
Iraq’s Christian population has shrunk by 400,000, compared to 1.5 million at the time of the US invasion in 2003.
People also gathered around the ruins of Al-Tahera Church, whose roof collapsed as a result of ISIS actions in 2017.
The Al-Tahera Church was one of 14 churches in Nineveh Province that was destroyed by the extremist group.
Boutros Chito, Catholic priest in Mosul, explained Pope Francis’ visit could change the way people think about his city.
“The Pope will announce to the world that we are lovers of peace and peace,” he was quoted as saying AFP Sunday (7/3/2021).
The 84-year-old pope is under close guard on visits most risky because ISIS sleeping cells are believed to still exist.
During his visit, the Holy Father asked that “the victims of the war as well as themselves” be prayed for.
“Hopefully we, regardless of religion, can live in peace and harmony. In God’s eyes, we are brothers,” he was quoted as saying by Vatican News.
“Push our morale”
Prior to visiting, the Pope emphasized that his agenda was “pilgrims of peace”, not only to convince Christians who were increasingly declining in Iraq.
The pope, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, also wants to have a dialogue with other religious leaders.
Also read: Pope Francis Meets Iraqi Shia Cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani
On Saturday (6/3/2021), he met the highest Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who agreed Christians should live in peace.
“We, believers, will certainly not remain silent when terrorism harasses religion,” he said during an inter-religious dialogue in Ur.
In 2014, when ISIS leveled Mosul, the Pope admitted he was ready to meet the victims in solidarity.
Seven years later, he visited Mosul and Qaraqosh, one of the oldest Christian cities in Iraq.
There, the people reportedly still speak the Syriac dialect, which existed at the time of Jesus Christ.
Also read: For the first time he visited Iraq, Pope Francis Calls for an End to Violence and Extremism
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria also had time to destroy the place. But in 2017, the people of Qaraqosh slowly built their city.
“This is an important visit to boost our morale, which for many years has been shrouded in hardship and war,” said Father George Jahoula.
In honor of the Holy Father, a local artist created a two-meter long stole filled with prayers.
They carefully embroidered the Prayer of Our Father and Hail Mary on both sides in the Shiite dialect.
The stole has been given to Pope Francis since the first day of his visit on Friday (5/3/2021).
Also read: Council of Muslim Elders: Pope Francis’ Visit to Iraq Promotes Peace
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