In addition to the conflict in the Middle East, talks at the Vatican focused on, among other things, how the Catholic Church and Catholics in Iraq can continue to fulfill their mission and “be a vibrant and active part of society and the country ”. The press room announced this in a statement after the hearing.
With this announcement, the Vatican Press Office confirms the corresponding media reports from the last few hours. On November 22nd, apart from the general audience, two…
Many Christians lived especially in the Nineveh Plains of Iraq before being expelled by IS terrorists; The reconstruction of the destroyed villages is progressing slowly and with strong international assistance. It is repeatedly emphasized how important the cultural and social contribution of Christians to Iraqi society is. In 2021, Pope Francis became the first pope to make a historic visit to Iraq.
Now the country’s president, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, was in an audience of around 25 minutes with Pope Francis, whom he venerated in a golden replica of the Ziggurat of Ur and a papal tunic with cassock, stole and pellegrina. Francis retaliated with a bronze image of a flower bud with the inscription “Peace is a fragile flower” and, in addition to the current peace message, some of his writings.
The audience at the Vatican
Situation of the Catholic Church in Iraq
The Iraqi President, in office since October 2022, then met, according to protocol, with the Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Dom Paul R. Gallagher. During the “cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State,” “topics of common interest were discussed,” according to the Vatican’s subsequent statement. In particular, he “reaffirmed the need” for the Catholic Church in Iraq to “continue to be able to fulfill its valuable mission and ensure that all Iraqi Christians can be a vibrant and active part of society and the country, especially in the Nineveh Plain.” .”
In addition, some international issues were discussed, in particular “the conflict in Israel and Palestine and the urgent commitment to peace and stability”.
(Vatican news – cs)