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In the Kurdish area of Iraq, Pope Francis called for reconciliation between religions. At the end of the four-day visit to Iraq there was an emotional meeting.
In a special symbolic ceremony, Pope Francis commemorated the victims of the war in northern Iraq, in Mosul. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization declared a “Caliphate” in the city in June 2004. Only three years later Mosul was liberated leaving them severely damaged by the fighting.
At Hosh al-Bieaa Square in Mosul, the epicenter of the destruction of several Christian churches, witnesses of the time told of the persecution and expulsion. Francesco said he was emotionally shocked by the “terrible experiences”. “There has been ‘immense damage,'” he said. Muslims, Christians, Yazidis – all are victims. “So we reiterate our conviction, however, that brotherhood is more powerful than fratricide,” the pope said.
At the end of the four-day visit, the 84-year-old head of the Catholic Church held a memorial mass conceived for the occasion. In it he stressed, several times that violence and hatred in the name of religion is unacceptable. At the end of the ceremony a memorial stone was inaugurated in the church square, to commemorate the Pope’s visit. Francesco released a dove of peace, before continuing the journey to Christian Karakos. In the summer of 2014, most of the Syrian Catholic population fled from IS terror. Years later many of them have returned.
Francis in the church of Karakoshi
Karakoshi Church is the largest in Iraq. It was destroyed by the Islamists, but has since been rebuilt. The Pope encouraged people not to lose faith: “You are not alone. “Our meeting here shows that terrorism and death will never dominate,” he said. “Do not stop dreaming.”
Now is the time to rebuild and for a new beginning, the Pope called on the faithful. This requires the strength to forgive. During the trip through Karakos, thousands of people cheered the well-secured convoy of the Argentine. Arrival in front of the church was delayed due to the influx of people, as the Pope occasionally stopped to greet people in person.
At the end of his visit to Iraq, the Pope held a mass in front of thousands of believers at the stadium in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous region of Kurdistan. He condemned in his sermon the abuse of power and corruption. “It is necessary to save our hearts and the church from ominous influence by power and money,” said Pope Francis. After Mass in Erbil, the Pope met with the father of the deceased refugee boy, Alan Kurdi. The photo of a small child whose body was pulled from the sea on a beach in Turkey in 2015 marked the culmination of the refugee crisis. Francesco expressed his condolences to Kurd for the family he has lost. Alan’s father thanked the head of the Catholic Church for his words.
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