March 8, Greetings of Pope Francis to women from Iraq, will it remove the yoke of masculinity?

Source: Catholic Herald/ Getty Images

Report by Elia Nasrallah

According to what journalists who accompanied His Holiness Pope Francis on his trip to Baghdad said before his arrival in Mesopotamia, he had seen reports about women "trafficking" during the control of ISIS on many Iraqi cities, and it affected and pained him.

Pope Francis announced that before he decided to visit Iraq, he had read the book of the young Yazidi woman Nadia Murad in which she talks about her captivity. He later revealed that Nadia's story was one of the reasons he decided to visit Iraq.

Source: National Catholic Reporter - CNS/Paul Haring

In his speech at the Great Church of the Immaculate Conception in Karakosh, he spoke about women saying: “From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all the mothers and women in this country. Those brave women who continue to give life despite the violations they are subjected to and the wounds inflicted upon them. Respect women and protect them! Let them receive attention and give them opportunities. "

With these words, Pope Francis thanked all women, especially Iraqi women, for their efforts and sacrifices in lights of the pain and hardships they face, especially with the worsening crises and wars in Iraq and the Middle East.

The speech of His Holiness the Pope came on the eve of the International Women's Day on March 8, and coincided with the conclusion of his Apostolic Visit to Iraq where he praised the role of women from the Iraqi Karakosh region, calling for them to be given opportunities to enhance their capabilities and develop their skills. His message was addressed to all women, from the wounded heart of Iraq to the whole world.

Pope Francis realizes how much the women of this East suffer and have suffered for decades, and how they experienced setbacks and violations of their dignity and rights. Women are considered the weakest links in Arab societies. they paid a heavy price during the wars and conflicts of the region that deepened their wounds and added to their turmoil and despair. However, some of them did not give up, they faced obstacles and stood in the way of all those trying to marginalize them in order to be a source of strength for many of those who drowned in fear and submission.

Heroic women like Mary, the woman who set a new beginning to the history of humanity and Christianity through her obedience, determination and humility to God’s will. Despite all the hardships she went through, this glorious lady may be an example for many of those who drew from her hope and determination in times of sadness, despair, hatred and violence...

She is that simple girl who was betrothed to a man from the house of David. She is the young woman who lived in Nazareth, distinguished by her silence. She is the woman who no one knew yet, and she prayed constantly, immersed in a constant dialogue with God, humble of heart ... She is the Virgin Mary, full of grace, pure from every sin ... the most sacred one, not aware of the beginning of the mission and vocation entrusted to her by God.

Following his visit to Iraq, HH Pope Francis thanks Our Lady for the visit’s. Source: Vatican News

"Here I am" was her answer when the Archangel Gabriel came to her in Nazareth to preach her good news. With a heart open to God, she accepted his will and prepared for the great events that God would bring into the world. By her response she put the whole creation in a state of infinite joy, as it marked the beginning of a new history manifested with the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ...

Being prepared, the Virgin Mary became an icon of obedience, goodness and righteousness, ready to wade through the raging sea, relying on God and waiting for his guidance to illuminate her path and lead her where he wanted her to go.

Sometimes, while reading the Bible, we notice her is absent but appears at crucial moments, open to the voice of God to be present as a mother and a disciple. His Holiness Pope Francis indicated during his public interview on Wednesday November 18, 2020 under the title “Virgin Mary, the Praying Woman,” she had an innate feminine feeling strengthened through her unique union with God in prayer.

Mary was not just a mother, but a brave woman and a symbol of good will and hope from which many drew positive energy and hope. Pope Francis said in the same public interview: “Mary prayed with the disciples who went through the stumbling of the Cross. She prayed with Peter, who succumbed to fear and cried remorse, he added, Mary was there, with the disciples, among the men and women her son called to form his community. Mary was not a priest among them, but the mother of Jesus who prayed with them, in the community, as one of them." Through prayer, Mary accompanied Jesus through all the stages of his life, leading to his death and resurrection, she then accompanied the nascent Church in its first steps and beginnings.

How great is the Son of God to choose a woman as his mother and the mother of humankind. To raise her to heaven and let her reign the heavens and earth and address her from the top of his cross saying: Woman, this is your son, and to John who represents the apostles, the Church and the entire universe he said: This is your mother, praise the motherhood of the Virgin Mary to every person on earth,” this is what Archbishop Paul Matar said in the sermon he delivered during the mass of “The women of the parish” celebrated in the Beirut Maronite diocese on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

However, with the increasing number of conflicts and disputes, especially in our sad East, women no longer find opportunities to establish their presence and role. Will the voice of Pope Francis resonate and enable our societies to protect their women, their sacred temple? Will the women of the East choose to imitate the Virgin Mary and be pioneers, lovers distinguished by their endless generosity in a world where hatred, hostility and corruption prevail ...? Will they be able to stand up to the injustice of a growing patriarchal society with the rise of fundamentalist movements, violence, incitement and hatred?

why not? Why shouldn't a woman be a leader, a free lady who can be a successful teacher, doctor, lawyer, farmer...!

We must not forget that the Bible taught us in the Book of Genesis, according to what Archbishop Matar said, that “God created Adam, molded him from mud and dust and breathed into him a soul, then, he took his limb and created the woman to tell us that women and the men are of one clay. They are equal before God ... the Church praised this equality to the core and venerated women after the Lord himself glorified them...”

Communication and Public Relations Department