MILAN (AsiaNews): “In October [2024], the last time I met him in person, he told me that Iraq is in his heart. This struck me a lot, because he spoke about the whole country, Christians, and Iraqis in general.” Louis Raphael Cardinal Sako, the patriarch of Chaldean Church in Iraq. Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
Saying that the pope’s “memory and presence” are still alive and well in the country he recalled that his visit in 2021 brought relief and comfort to a country tormented by wars and sectarian violence.
“Francis’s words are also a reminder for the future pope. He must be for everyone, not only for Christians, but also for those who do not believe. He must be a messenger of peace and brotherhood. Pope Francis was able to read and grasp the signs of the times better than anyone else,” Cardinal Sako said,.
Pope Francis apostolic journey to Iraq in March 2021 was among the highlights of his pontificate. The world was still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and only a few weeks earlier, the vaccination campaign had begun which would restore the planet to a semblance of normality more than a year later.
Still, the pope undertook a historic visit to a country that still bore the signs of the internal conflict following the US invasion in 2003, which had led to the fall of dictator, Saddam Hussein, not to mention the major sectarian violence orchestrated by jihadi groups, in particular the Islamic State [IS] group, with its legacy of blood and brutality.
In October [2024], the last time I met him in person, he told me that Iraq is in his heart. This struck me a lot, because he spoke about the whole country, Christians, and Iraqis in general
Cardinal Sako
The pope visited different areas of the country, including the capital, Baghdad, and Mosul, in northern Iraq—for a long time the stronghold of the “caliphate” of IS leader, al-Baghdadi,.
Other stops included Ur of the Chaldeans, where a church dedicated to Abraham, the common father of the three great monotheistic religions, has been recently inaugurated, and finally Najaf, where he met the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s foremost Shia religious leader, who issued a message of condolence on April 23 for the pope.
He “held a prominent spiritual standing among many peoples around the world and was greatly respected by all, due to his distinguished role in advancing the causes of peace and tolerance, and in expressing solidarity with the oppressed and persecuted [peoples] across various regions of the globe,” reads the press release from the Shia leader’s office.
With his presence, the pope restored dignity and visibility to a Christian population that in the last 20 years has been decimated by wars, displacement and forced emigration, going from almost 1.5 million members to just over 300,000 today.
“Coming among us, he sent a message to Iraqis and to all the countries of the Middle East: no more wars, no more violence,” said Cardinal Sako. Pope Francis urged “respect for human dignity and the freedom of people, combined with encouragement to the Christian minority by calling on them to remain in their own land. He was a prophet for us who came to give us courage, and tell us not to be afraid.”
Coming among us, he sent a message to Iraqis and to all the countries of the Middle East: no more wars, no more violence
Cardinal Sako
The Chaldean patriarch will be in Rome to concelebrate the pope’s funeral and take part in the conclave.
“In Iraq, as in the whole world, people are moved and saddened by his death” which, despite the pope’s precarious health conditions, “still came suddenly, almost unexpectedly.”
The patriarch said, “This morning I was at a conference, in the presence of almost a thousand ministers and religious leaders. In speaking I mentioned how much good the pope did for the Church and for the world. Everyone was struck by his death; for us it is like losing a prophetic voice: of peace, hope, humility, and sensitivity, of closeness to the people and, especially to those who suffer.”
He said, “His voice rose against wars, against religious extremism, for dialogue, visiting six Muslim-majority countries and signing the document on fraternity.”
Cardinal Sako had a final thought about the historic meeting between Pope Francis and al-Sistani, which is not just a picture in an album of memories but has turned into concrete occasions—and events—of ongoing dialogue, relationships and fraternity.
“Al-Sistani sent a letter of condolence for the pope,” the cardinal noted, “mentioning how he was a great person, a messenger of hope. The meeting with al-Sistani became the start of a relationship, because this was precisely one of the great things about Pope Francis: he went beyond academic dialogue to create a living, real-life dialogue between people.”
