BAGHDAD (AsiaNews): According to Louis Raphael Cardinal Sako, patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans, the imminent inauguration of the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church in Ur of the Chaldeans, in Iraq, four years after Pope Francis’ visit, is a “message” and a sign of “openness.”
Cardinal Sako hopes that the new church will become a place of pilgrimage for Iraqis and believers from all over the world—Christians and Muslims—for Abraham “is their common father.”
The opening is scheduled for March 6, the anniversary of the pope’s apostolic journey in 2021, but will instead “be held after Easter, after Ramadan and Lent.” This is also necessary because, the prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and other Muslim figures are expected to participate [in the ceremony], which is why we preferred to postpone it after the month of fasting and Islamic prayer.”
The patriarch of Baghdad said that the church would be a landmark and a place of pilgrimage “like the Church of the Baptism on the Jordan River or the Abrahamic House in the United Arab Emirates. Today, we need these signs and places to unite all humanity for they represent a meeting point for all religions.”
The Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church is “important for Iraq and Iraqis,” Cardinal Sako said. It is “a Christian ‘sign’ in a place with a huge Muslim majority, which will help others understand Christians and respect their faith, looking at the points of union and accepting the elements of diversity, to live in peace and stability.”
The patriarch of Baghdad said that the church would be a landmark and a place of pilgrimage
The church is part of a larger complex that rises in the desert plain, with a pyramidal shape. It is not only a place of worship, but also a religious, social and cultural facility closely linked to Pope Francis and his message on the three great monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—that are affiliated with Abraham.
This will further encourage dialogue following the pope signing the Document on [Human] Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019 with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb of al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, and his meeting with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the foremost Shia cleric.
Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church is also intended to encourage Iraqi Christians, whose numbers have dwindled in the past 20 years, from around 1.5 million to just a few hundred thousand.
The building stands in an area of 10,000 square metres and includes a large room of 600 square metres and a 23-metre-high bell tower.
The church will serve the Christian community, but is also expected to attract tourists from all over the world, especially Christian pilgrims.
[It is] a Christian ‘sign’ in a place with a huge Muslim majority, which will help others understand Christians and respect their faith, looking at the points of union and accepting the elements of diversity, to live in peace and stability] Cardinal Sako
“Four years after the pope’s visit, everyone still remembers him,” Cardinal Sako said. “He too, several times in the past, has said that Iraq is in his heart.”
The pope’s health is a source of concern not only among Christians, but also for Iraqi authorities and many Muslims.
“Two days ago [February 24], the prime minister called me asking about his conditions and wishing him a speedy recovery,” Cardinal Sako said. “He enjoys great respect among the population. With his presence, he was able to change [at least in part] the mindset, strengthen coexistence, the sense of brotherhood, awareness that faith is a personal matter, while being part of the country represents a common good.”
The cardinal said, “Many have written to me in recent days, including Muslims, to underline how he represents a sign of hope, a light onto humanity for his farsightedness, humanity, and openness.”
The Chaldean patriarch looks to other Arab nations for examples, including those in the Gulf, where “an extremist religious ideology is no longer; faith is at the base, but the regime, the system of government must be civilian. We must work to build the rule of law, justice, equality, in which respect and security are achieved.”
The common good is a key issue in Iraq “and generally in the Middle East: from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq and Palestine, we must put an end to extremist and violent ideology, war, death, destruction. We must resort to soft diplomacy.”
In addition, Iraq must promote its cultural and archaeological heritage, “the real black gold” as he likes to repeat, because “thanks to tourism and pilgrimages, it is possible to support the country’s economy. One day oil will run out, but antiquities, treasures, if preserved, will remain.”
However, he cautions that promoting the country’s heritage must be accompanied by a commitment to peace because “the many war fronts are worrisome and we do not know what will happen. Syria and Lebanon are also elements of uncertainty, although I hope we can continue on the path of political, national and economic construction.”
The patriarch hopes that the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church can become “a sign of openness” and help “to reason and see [things] better.”
