In Iraq, “the visit of French bishops is a great moral comfort”

The cross : What does this visit by French bishops to Iraq symbolically mark? How can you deepen the bond between your two Churches?

His Beatitude Louis Raphaël Sako: For me, this visit constitutes a great spiritual and moral comfort. Praying together, as we have already done (Monday March 6, editor’s note) with the Christian community of Baghdad, encourages us to collaborate for a better future in our country. The universal Church has remained very close to us, and particularly that of France, because the history of Eastern Christianity is closely linked to it… By this visit here, she renews this commitment vis-à-vis Iraqi Christians.

Bishop Eric of Moulins-Beaufort: We want to show them here our support and our fraternity, but also to concretely evaluate the way in which the Catholics of France can help them, in particular through associations such as the Œuvre d’Orient… It is a coincidence, but providential, to come here at the time of the two-year anniversary of the Pope’s trip. For us, it is very moving to put ourselves – very modestly, very humbly – in his footsteps.

The pope had strong words, calling not to give in to the virus of despair, to the temptation of “community withdrawal”… Do you feel that the momentum of his visit is still carrying the Christians on the spot, or is it hard to can we measure the concrete effects on the ground?

AND. by M.-B. : During our meeting with him, the apostolic nuncio in Iraq (Mgr Leskovar, editor’s note) insisted on the fact that the fruits of the papal visit could not be counted like that, one by one. It is not an investment that we would see the results immediately. But there is a symbolic aspect: it is one of those events that inflect, transform, a little the spirits.

From what we were told, this visit enabled the Iraqis to understand that there were still Christians among them, and that the latter were an asset. This has opened a breach in hearts and minds, but which has yet to turn into a change in behavior over the years. That’s another subject, hence no doubt the importance of having this type of visit, of linking Iraq to all of humanity.

L. R. S. : The Pope’s visit indeed had great meaning for us, helping to make our presence recognized. But I believe that Christians here must continue to show that they are indigenous, Iraqi citizens who respect everyone else. The rest takes time. We must prepare the future together. This is our responsibility, as Christians and Muslims. Pope Francis showed us the way: he reaffirmed the importance of fraternity, respect for diversity, interreligious coexistence, rejecting violence and the temptation of fundamentalism. We must continue to work on this new horizon, without waiting for it to be done from outside or from the political class. The Iraqis must be more active.

Five years after the fall of Daesh, what are the priorities for Eastern Christians in a political, social and security context that is still very thorny?

L. R. S. : There are challenges, first and foremost the fight against fundamentalism, before all those who are convinced that they hold the truth, that their religion is the only valid one, that the others are in error. This discriminating mentality can lead to violence and terrorism. Recently, we published a small book in which we present our faith in an understandable way, and in which the Muslims also present their dogmas. We hope this will be adopted into public education curricula.

Beyond the fight against the terrible ideology of fundamentalism, we must stand up against the corruption that plagues our society, with those who appropriate the common good. This is why we are a rich country, and at the same time poor. The conflict between Iran and the West is finally having an impact on us, as is the war between Russia and Ukraine.

AND. by M.-B. : In what we experienced at the beginning of our trip, I will remember the work of the Dominicans at the Academy of Baghdad, where they give courses in human sciences to those – of all ages – who are interested, helping them to acquire a a certain critical spirit, the ability to think freely, to resist ideological or overly populist discourse.

It seems to me that the Church is playing a very important role here, one that is truly her own, in enabling everyone to reflect on the basis of their baptism or their human dignity and without letting themselves be disturbed by prefabricated propaganda speeches. In a country where the median age is 18, training is a decisive issue so that the new generations do not experience the trauma of wars and to build a real future, allowing Iraq to bring to humanity its millennial wealth.

This is your first trip to Iraq. Was there a scene in particular that stood out to you?

AND. by M.-B. : There were several strong ones, but I would say our visit to the Syrian-Catholic cathedral Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours, where a terrorist attack took place with 54 dead (in 2010, Ed). I had met in Paris the parish priest of this cathedral, Father Raphaël, who had come to France to be treated for his many wounds…

He bore on him the scars of the horrors he had experienced, seen… It was doubly moving to be in this cathedral and to begin our pilgrimage there. Everything was cleaned, rebuilt, but the memories of all those who were murdered are kept, and we were able to pray in the crypt of the martyrs.

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