Pope Benedict XVI urged Iraqi Christians on Monday to find the strength to keep working for a peaceful future after the death of the kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Mosul. Benedict celebrated a memorial Mass in a Vatican chapel in honor of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. His body was found last week near the northern city of Mosul, weeks after he was abducted.
Benedict has called Rahho's death an "inhuman act of violence" that offended human dignity.
In his homily Monday, Benedict called Rahho a man of peace and dialogue who paid particular attention to the poor and handicapped in his flock.
"Let his example support all Iraqis of good will — Christians and Muslims — to work for a peaceful coexistence, founded on human brotherhood and reciprocal respect," Benedict said.
Benedict has consistently criticized attacks against Iraqi Christians by Islamic extremists, and Rahho's death appears to have had a strong impact on him.On Sunday, in denouncing the death and the 5-year-old Iraq war, Benedict issued one of his strongest appeals for peace yet.
"Enough with the slaughters. Enough with the violence. Enough with the hatred in Iraq!"
Benedict said to applause at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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