"These projects and initiatives in the humanitarian field help
spread a spirit of cooperation among all citizens. They also make it clear that
Christians are true members of this country, who want to do good for everyone,"
said His Beatitude Mar Raphael Louis Sako I as he spoke to AsiaNews about the spirit that led to the establishment of a
medical clinic in Baghdad, strongly supported by the Chaldean Patriarchate and
open to Christians, Muslims and members of other religious faiths, without distinction
or discrimination.
On Monday, the
leaders of the Iraqi Church inaugurated the St Joseph's Hospital, which is located
in Baladiyat, East Baghdad. During the ceremony, Mar Sako cut the ribbon in the
presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr Giorgio Lingua, bishops, priests, nuns,
Muslims clerics, representatives of the central government as well as ordinary
citizens, curious to see the new facility up front.
The clinic is
located in a mostly Shia area of the capital. Muslim religious leaders took the
opportunity of the opening ceremony to thank Christians, emphasising the role
of the Church "in building the country and spreading the principles of
peace and coexistence among all citizens."
In this regard,
the Chaldean Patriarch said, "Muslims have already come to realise the
spirit of the openness that Christians have towards all religions, especially Muslims".
In concluding, His Beatitude noted that the clinic is "open to all without
exception."
During the ceremony
(picture from the Chaldean Patriarchate
website), Mgr Shlemon Warduni, auxiliary
bishop of Baghdad, explained the various departments, thanking those who "have
actively contributed" to the facility, in particular the Endowment Office for
Christians, Yazidi and Sabians.
Through this
initiative, the Iraqi Catholic Church wants to create a space "open to all
religions" in "the service of society."
The facility was
initially designed to provide care and serve as a retirement home for the
elderly when it opened in 2010, but that proved unsatisfactory Therefore, it
was decided to turn it into a real hospital.
Sources in the
Chaldean Patriarchate said that only the outpatient clinic is open, but at
present, there are no accommodations for patients, only specialised areas for the
medical staff. Eventually though, the whole facility should be up and running.
Local Muslims reacted
positively to the initiative, with positive comments for a project that is
"vital" for local residents.
Directed by
Ghaleb Mansour, the hospital also has a small but pleasant church for religious
services. It is here that the opening ceremony was held.
St Joseph's Hospital
is a sign of "hope" and "humanity" in a country shaken by acts
of violence that have reached a worrying level in 2014. Yesterday alone, more
than 70 people died in a series of bombings in various parts of Iraq.
The violence has
now reached the level of 2005 and 2006. In 2013, the official death toll stood at
8,868. So far this year, almost 300 people have been killed.