Preaching a message of unity and forgiveness to Iraq’s Christians, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, leader of the Chaldean Church who was recently elevated to the position of Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, urged them to work toward the progress of the country.The 80-year-old patriarch of one of the largest Christian denomination in Iraq and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, was welcomed with applauses and chants by worshippers last week as he entered Mar Yusef (Saint Joseph) church in a Christian town near the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region.
In his sermon, Cardinal Delly urged the nation to pray for each other and forgive one another. He also encouraged Iraqis who had left the country to return home.
"We pray today for the sake of each other and to forgive each other, as well to be directed to do good deeds," Delly said, reported the AP news agency. "That is my demand for the Iraqis, moreover I urge the return home for displaced people and immigrants to their ancestral land."
The Cardinal had also added that the Pontiff was praying for the Iraqi people and wished that peace, love, and brotherhood would unite all of them into one Iraqi family, reported the AFP news agency.
The two hours Sunday Mass was heavily guarded, with the Christian minority being a favourite target for Islamic extremists, where worshippers were searched while snipers could be seen stationing at nearby rooftop.
In addition, the Mass was also broadcast in Iraqi State television.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce