MECC Secretariat General in an Online meeting with Cardinal Sako: What comes after the visit of Pope Francis to Iraq?

As a follow-up to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq, Middle East Council of Churches President on behalf of the Catholic family and Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako met with MECC General Secretary Dr. Michel Abs, Assistant Secretary General Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros and departments directors. They discussed the role of the Middle East Council of Churches in achieving the goals of this historic visit and its impact on the Christian presence in the East, interfaith dialogue and the role of Iraq and its churches in spreading the culture of peace, citizenship and the civil state...

At the beginning of the meeting, His Beatitude went through the many stops of the visit and their impacts. He explained how the visit broke the barrier of fear among all and how the presence of the Pope gave them courage.

His Beatitude continued: “All Iraqi people were there to meet the Pope who teared up many times during the visit, especially in Hosh Al-Baya in Mosul, where ISIS had bombarded 4 churches (Syriac, Chaldean, Syriac Catholic and Armenian Orthodox). The Pope shed tears of pain on the repercussions of terrorism and extremism."

They then discussed ways to focus the Council capabilities to work on plans to enhance the ecumenical spirit and the role of youth, while supporting inter-religious dialogue initiatives in a society torn apart by religious intolerance, extremism and violence.

At the end of the meeting, Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs pledged activating the council’s role in Iraq through projects reflecting the council essential mission and role. Projects well needed in the Iraqi community, especially among Christians, who are waiting for effective and practical initiatives to establish their roots and role in the land of Mesopotamia, crossroad of religions and source of civilizations.