Vatican City, July 20, 2014 (Zenit.org) Pope Francis has called on all the faithful to remember in prayer Christians fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul, and to continue praying for others caught up in conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. He was responding to news on Saturday that the last of Mosul’s Christians have left the city, driven out by Islamist militants. Until now, the city, which had 60,000 Christians before the Iraq War began, had not been without a Christian presence for 1,600 years. The Pope said he had learned of the news “with concern” and recalled that in Mosul and in other parts of the Middle East, Christians from the very beginning of Christianity “lived with their fellow citizens, offering a significant contribution to the good of society.” “I invite you to remember them in prayer,” the Pope said. “I also urge you to persevere in prayer for situations of tension and conflict that persist in different parts of the world, especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. May the God of peace inspire in all a genuine desire for dialogue and reconciliation. Violence will not be overcome with violence. Violence is overcome with peace!” The Holy Father then paused for a moment of silence before praying for the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:30:00 +0000
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