Card Sako: Francis, al-Sistani talked about real life, beyond academic dialogue
The Chaldean Patriarch spoke to AsiaNews about the late pope on the eve of his departure for Rome to attend the pontiff's funeral and the conclave. Francis was a "prophetic" voice that spoke not only to Christians, but to all Iraqis. His historic trip in March 2021 and the message of peace and brotherhood are his legacy. He “was able to read and grasp the signs of the times better than anyone else.”
Milan (AsiaNews) – Card Louis Raphael Sako, the Patriarch of Chaldean Church in Iraq spoke to AsiaNews about Pope Francis who passed away on Monday but whose “memory and presence” is still alive and well in the Arab country.
“In October, 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.”
The pontiff visited Iraq not many years ago, bringing 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.”
The apostolic journey to Iraq in March 2021 was certainly among the highlights of Pope Francis’s 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 pontiff undertook a historic visit to a country that still bore the signs of the internal conflict following the 2003 US invasion, 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.
After overcoming fears and uncertainties, the pope visited different areas of the country, including the capital, Baghdad, and Mosul, northern Iraq, for a long time the stronghold of IS leader al-Baghdadi's caliphate.
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 yesterday for the pontiff.
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 by 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 Patriarch Sako. Francis urged “again 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.”
The Chaldean patriarch is currently in Erbil, for a series of meetings and conferences, but in the evening he will return to Baghdad, where he will leave on Friday, heading for Rome to concelebrate the pontiff's funeral and take part in the conclave as a cardinal elector.
“In Iraq, as in the whole world, people are moved and saddened by his death" which, despite the pontiff's precarious health conditions, “still came suddenly, almost unexpectedly.”
"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.”
For the patriarch, “His voice rose against wars, against religious extremism, for dialogue, visiting six Muslim-majority countries and signing the document on fraternity.”
Card Sako had a final thought about the historic meeting with 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.”
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25/03/2021 19:33
08/03/2021 14:44
