War "is a terrible experience" that "we have already had" and
therefore "we feel a lot closer" to Syria," said Mar Raphael Louis Sako.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the Chaldean
patriarch called on the bishops, priests and faithful of Iraq "to fast for
peace in Syria and the Middle East."
Stressing
"the suffering" of the Syrian people, His Beatitude said, "We saw a similar thing
ten years ago." From hindsight, after the United States-led war in 2003 ended in
Saddam Hussein's fall, "we have had neither democracy nor freedom." Instead,
"confusion and security are getting worse. . . . Every day, more people die in
Iraq."
On Sunday during the Angelus, Pope
Francis called for a
day of prayer and fasting on 7 September for "peace in Syria, the
Middle East and the world," an appeal also
addressed to "believers of all faiths; even those who do not
believe," a call accepted by Christian and non-Christian leaders,
close to the Syrian people and ready to support an end to the conflict.
In the meantime, the situation in
Syria is getting worse and in neighbouring Iraq, people fear serious
consequences not only in political terms, but also in human lives. In view of
its scale, the tragedy of "those poor people living in panic" is becoming
increasingly clear, the patriarch said.
"For us it is like reliving the past,"
Mar Sako said. "It is as if Iraq itself were also under attack. We have a deep
sense of gratitude towards Syria, which took in and took care of many Iraqis over
the past ten years. As a thank you, we are ready to welcome those who will need
our help."
Iraqi Christians have accepted with
enthusiasm the papal initiative and are set to pray and fast tomorrow.
"The Pope's appeal is very important,"
His Beatitude explained. "It was widely covered in Iraqi media. It has
mobilised people of good, those seek peace, because peace is the only way to
solve problems, not war or military intervention, which under the pretext of
defending the innocent, end up killing other innocent civilians."
For the Chaldean Patriarch, the Muslim
world, as much as the West, has a "moral responsibility". It is called to
change its "mind-set of violence and revenge, opening up to dialogue and diversity".
For the prelate, a state based on
the Sharia like in the 7th century "cannot work today". Instead, "we
must be realistic. Even the Muslim world must change, and not be guided by religion
alone."
Lastly, the patriarch has some words
for the refugees, whose sad fate could still turn into a tragedy.
"The flight of thousands of
families, the abandoned homes and schools and the coming winter are likely to
make a bad situation worse, "Mar Sako said.
"The health situation is also very
precarious. I asked Caritas to be ready to help refugees. We, as Iraqi and as Christians,
are sensitive to this. For a long time, we were the ones fleeing, and for this
reason, we feel close to the Iraqi people."