杏MAP导航

By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

鈥淚n the past few days, the Lord allowed me to visit Iraq, carrying out a project of Saint John Paul II,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said. 鈥淣ever before has a 杏MAP导航 been in the land of Abraham. Providence willed that this should happen now, as a sign of hope, after years of war and terrorism, and during a severe pandemic.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis focused his catechesis during Wednesday鈥檚 General Audience - the first after returning from his Apostolic Journey to Iraq 鈥� on his reflections on his four-day visit to the Middle Eastern nation from 5 - 8 March.

Gratitude

The 杏MAP导航 said his soul is filled with gratitude: first to God, and to all who made it possible 鈥� the president and government of Iraq, the Patriarchs and bishops of the country, as well as the ministers and the faithful of their respective churches.

He also acknowledged other religious authorities, beginning with the Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani, with whom the 杏MAP导航 had an 鈥渦nforgettable鈥� meeting at his residence in Najaf.

A hopeful church in spite of trials

鈥淚 strongly felt a penitential sense regarding this pilgrimage,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航.

鈥淚 could not draw near to that tortured people, to that martyr-Church, without taking upon myself, in the name of the Catholic Church, the cross they have been carrying for years; a huge cross, like the one placed at the entrance of Qaraqosh.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis explained that he felt this sense in a special way when he saw the still open wounds of the destruction, and even more so, when he met with and listened to the witnesses who had survived the violence and persecution.

However, at the same time, the 杏MAP导航 noted that he saw all around him, the 鈥渏oy of welcoming Christ鈥檚 message鈥� and 鈥渢he hope of being open to a horizon of peace and fraternity鈥� which were summed up in Jesus鈥� words expressed in the motto of his Apostolic visit to Iraq: 鈥淵ou are all brothers鈥� (Mt 23:8).

This hope, the 杏MAP导航 insisted, he saw in the discourse of the Iraqi president, in the many greetings and testimonies, in the songs and gestures of the people, and on the luminous faces of the young and in the vivacious eyes of the elderly.

War destroys peace

鈥淭he Iraqi people have the right to live in peace; they have the right to rediscover the dignity that belongs to them,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis stated.

Recalling the country鈥檚 religious and cultural roots which are thousands of years old, the Holy Father noted that Mesopotamia is the cradle of civilization.

Historically, he added, Baghdad is a city of primary importance, "hosting for centuries the richest library in the world."

鈥淎nd what destroyed it? War!鈥� the 杏MAP导航 lamented.

War, he explained, 鈥渋s always the monster that transforms itself with the change of epochs and continues to devour humanity.鈥�

鈥淏ut the response to war is not another war, the response to weapons is not other weapons... The response is fraternity,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis affirmed.

This, he insisted, is the "challenge not only for Iraq but for many regions in conflict and, ultimately, for the whole world.鈥�

You are all brothers

Recalling his meeting with religious leaders in Ur during his Apostolic journey, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that Christians, Muslims and representatives came together to pray in Ur, where Abraham received God鈥檚 call about four thousand years ago.

He further explained that Abraham is our father in faith because listening to God's voice promising him descendants, he left everything and departed. And at Ur, standing together under the same sky in which our father Abraham saw us, his descendants, the phrase 鈥淵ou are all brothers鈥� seems to resound once again.

鈥淕od is faithful to his promises,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said. He 鈥済uides our steps toward peace still today. He guides the steps of those who journey on Earth with their gaze turned toward Heaven."

Messages of fraternity: Baghdad, Mosul, Qaraqosh and Erbil

Further emphasizing the importance of fraternity, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that a message of fraternity came from the ecclesial meeting in the Syrian Catholic Cathedral of Baghdad where forty-eight people, including two priests were killed during the celebration of Holy Mass in 2010.

He said that in that temple which bears the names of those martyrs inscribed in stone, the joy of encounter resounded as his 鈥渁mazement at being in their midst mingled with their joy at having the 杏MAP导航 among them.鈥�

The Holy Father also launched another message of fraternity from Mosul and Qaraqosh, on the Tigris River, near the ruins of ancient Nineveh. There, the occupation of the so-called Islamic State caused several thousands to flee for their lives, including Christians and other persecuted minorities, in particular the Yazidis.

He noted that reconstruction efforts are underway and Muslims and Christians are working together to restore churches and mosques.

The 杏MAP导航 enjoined all to pray for them that 鈥渢hey may have the strength to start over.鈥� He also remembered the many Iraqi emigrants and reminded them, who have left everything like Abraham, to 鈥渒eep the faith and hope鈥� and be weavers of friendship and fraternity where they are.

Another message of fraternity came from the two Eucharistic celebrations in Baghdad and Erbil.

杏MAP导航 Francis explained that 鈥淎braham鈥檚 hope, and that of his descendants is fulfilled in the mystery we celebrated, in Jesus, the Son that God the Father did not spare, but gave for everyone鈥檚 salvation: through His death and resurrection, He opened the way to the promised land, to that new life where tears dried, wounds are healed, brothers and sisters are reconciled.鈥�

Prayers for Iraq, the Middle East

Concluding his remarks at the General Audience, the 杏MAP导航 praised God for the Apostolic Journey, and encouraged all to pray for Iraq and the Middle East where, in spite of the destruction and weapons, the palm trees, symbol of the country and its hope, have continued to grow and bear fruit.

鈥淪o it is for fraternity,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said. 鈥淚t does not make noise, but is fruitful and makes us grow.鈥�