The Pope prays surrounded by the remains of destroyed churches ... and performs the largest mass in Erbil

Muslims and Christians tell the Pope their suffering from "ISIS" in the ruins of Mosul

Pope Francis sits near the ruins of a Syriac Catholic church in Old Mosul.

A.F.B.

The Pope of the Vatican, Pope Francis, surrounded by the ruins of buildings and the remains of demolished churches, prayed in the Iraqi city of Mosul yesterday, and Muslim and Christian residents told him their suffering under the brutal rule of the terrorist organization "ISIS", and the Pope blessed their determination to rise from the ashes, and told them that “ Brotherhood is stronger than killing brothers », and the Pope performed his biggest Mass during his visit to Iraq.

The Pope walked among the ruins of ruined homes and the churches of Mosul, to a square that was once the beating heart of the old city there, and sat surrounded by the ruins of buildings, the remains of concrete steps and ruined ancient churches, most of which are precarious buildings.

Amidst the rubble, Pope Francis presided over a prayer for the souls of the "victims of war", in an area that was the scene of "ISIS" violations a few years ago.

The Pope, seemingly affected by the extent of the destruction surrounding him, prayed to all those who lost their lives in Mosul, and said: “It is with extreme cruelty that this country, the cradle of civilizations, has been subjected to such an inhuman storm that destroyed ancient places of worship, and thousands of thousands of people, Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others, were forcibly displaced or killed. ”

And the Pope continued: “Today, in spite of everything, we reaffirm our conviction that brotherhood is stronger than killing brothers, that hope is stronger than death, and that peace is stronger than war. This conviction speaks with a voice more eloquent than the voice of hatred and violence, and it cannot be Those who distort the name of God and walk in the paths of destruction are suffocated in the midst of the blood that was shed, in direct reference to the terrorist organization "ISIS".

The Pope called on Christians to return to Mosul, saying: "I invite Christian families to return to Mosul and play their vital role. Hope for reconciliation is still possible. We welcome the call of Christians to return to Mosul and raise our prayers for all victims of war, so that we live in harmony and peace transcending religious affiliations." .

He said that the features of the war are clear in Mosul, expressing regret that the country of civilizations has been subjected to this terrorist attack, and pointed out that the city of Mosul has two symbols that make us draw closer to God, namely the Al-Nuri Mosque and its humpback lighthouse, and the Church of the Hour.

The Pope's visit was surrounded by intense security measures, and his convoy was accompanied by military trucks equipped with automatic cannons, and security men in civilian clothes mixed with people in Mosul, while their pistols emerged from bags on their chests.

As part of his historic visit to Iraq, Pope Francis arrived in Mosul yesterday by helicopter, with the aim of urging healing sectarian wounds and praying for those who lost their lives of all religions.

The militants of the terrorist organization "ISIS" invaded northern Iraq between 2014 and 2017, killing Christians and Muslims who opposed their approach, and destroying most of the ancient city of Mosul during the battles.

The Iraqi Christian community, which is among the oldest in the world, has suffered in particular from the years of conflict, and its number has become about 300,000, down from about 1.5 million before the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the violence that followed.

The official of Mosul's Syriac Catholic Churches and the pastor of the Church of the Annunciation that was destroyed in Mosul, Father Raed Adel Kloo, narrated how he was displaced in 2014 with about 500 Christian families, while there are now fewer than 70 families left.

He said, "I left the city in 2014 with a parish made up of about 500 Christian families, most of whom immigrated outside the country, and the rest of the rest are afraid to return, and those who live in the city today are Christians, no more than 70 families."

He continued, "But today I live with two million Muslims who call me (Our Father Raed), I live my message with them, and I work with the Mosul Families and Families Council to promote the message of peaceful coexistence."

The head of the Mosul Socio-Cultural Families and Families Council, Qutaiba Al-Agha, urged Christians who fled, to return to their city, property and work.

After that, the Pope flew by helicopter to Qarqosh, a Christian region overrun by ISIS militants, and the families gradually returned to it.

In Karakosh, thousands of people were waiting for the Pope by the wayside, and they were filled with joy.

In a related context, the Pope revived the largest ceremonial mass in Erbil, Kurdistan, and greeted Iraq at the last stop of his historic visit to Iraq, saying: "Now, the moment of return to Rome is approaching, but Iraq will always remain with me and in my heart."

The Pope chose to conclude his Mass with a message of hope, saying: “In these days that I spent among you, I heard voices of pain and distress, but I also heard voices of hope and consolation.” He concluded by saying: “Peace, peace, peace .. thank you,” then “God is with you.” in Arabic.

• The Pope’s visit was surrounded by intense security measures, and his convoy was accompanied by military trucks equipped with automatic cannons.

• The Pope, at the conclusion of his visit: "Iraq will always be with me and in my heart .. God is with you."

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news