Pope Francis Daily

The Chaldean Patriarchate Media has created the following summary of an address that Chaldean Patriach Louis Sako I of Babylon gave in Berlin, Germany, Oct.17-19, during a task force to discuss Iraq’s future. This document was made available to international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need:

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His Beatitude Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako accompanied by His Excellency, the Auxiliary Bishop Basilio Yaldo, participated in a Task Force to Discuss the Future of Iraq on 17 -19 Oct 2017, Berlin – Germany

The meeting was organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which is affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany. The moderator was the US Ambassador, Mr. Ryan Crocker. The topic was, as Mr. Crocker stated, to present a vision to the new American administration about the future of Iraq and especially that of its minorities.

In the presentation H.B. the Patriarch focused on:

Regarding the situation of Christians,

His Beatitude stressed the importance for Christians of being wise, rational and realistic, stopping neutrality and hands-off policy, but rather taking responsibility in participating and having a positive impact on making changes consistent with their aspiration. In this way, Christians can obtain their rights and be freed from discrimination and intolerance through a dialogue with their partners in the homeland.

The Patriarch concluded that in order for Christians to survive it is necessary for them to engage in the political process and to participate energetically in activities that pursue the building and the developing of the homeland based on citizenship, respect of the laws and responsibilities, and the diffusion of equality, freedom and national partnership values.

Briefly, what we need is to be encouraged to stay in our homeland hoping for a promising future. Iraqi Christians love their land where their roots date as far back as thousands of years and would like to stay here, no matter what.

+Louis Raphaël Sako I