Iraqi priest: Even among Mosul refugees, life and resurrection win over death
Erbil (AsiaNews) – "Although our suffering, that of the refugees and all of Iraq endures, so does our hope in the Risen Lord. He is the Lord of Life and life always wins over death; now resurrection rules,” said Fr Janan Shamil Azeez, a priest with the Chaldean Diocese of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, who spoke with AsiaNews a few days before Easter.
Since last June, the Church in Erbil has been helping more than 130,000 Christian refugees from Mosul, after the city fell to the Islamic State group. The wounds caused by the flight, impoverishment and the search for accommodation are the daily tragedy Christians must face.
For this reason, for several months, AsiaNews has been raising funds through its ‘Adopt a Christian from Mosul" campaign. So far, it has raised and sent about 1.3 million euro (US$ 1.4 million).
However, refugees have lost hope of returning to their homes any time soon. The victories by the Iraqi army in Tikrit are still far from Mosul. For this reason, they are looking for something more stable.
Refugee camps are no longer just rows of tents. Containers now give families more room and make them less vulnerable to the heat of summer and the cold of winter.
The Chaldean Church has also found more than 600 rental units for thousands of families. Having a roof over one’s head, even when two or three families have to share it, is one step closer to a more normal life.
“Despite the uncertainties, people are into cleaning, beautification, job hunting,” said a local priest.
The visit by Card Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has given people more hope. As the pope’s envoy, he is bringing Francis’ closeness to the Iraqi people, especially refugees.
"Card Filoni was greeted very warmly,” said Fr Jamal, secretary of Mgr Bashar Warda, the Chaldean bishop of Erbil. “People warmly welcomed him because he is the papal envoy.”
“Everyone understands that they are not alone in their suffering; this helps them find the strength to endure the situation. Since the beginning of this tragedy, the refugees and the bishops have always asked not to be left alone.”
Some years ago, the current prefect of Propaganda Fide was nuncio in Iraq. Last June, he visited the country when the tragic exodus began in Mosul.
"With the arrival of Card Filoni, an initiative by the Diocese of Rome got underway,” Fr Jana said. “Titled ‘A Colomba (dove-shaped cake) for Peace,’ the plan is to give a cake to each refugee family.”
“I personally went to pick them up and we are now handing them out to families as a gift from the Holy Father. We should have at least 15-20,000 cakes".
Card Filoni is visiting all the dioceses of Kurdistan with refugee camps. A few days ago, he was in the north, in Alqosh, Zakho and Duhoc. At present, he is in Erbil to celebrate the Easter Vigil with the Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, Louis Sako.
The celebration will be held in a large tent, set up into a new neighbourhood in Ankawa, the Christian enclave of Erbil. It can hold at least a thousand people. The Mass will also be broadcast by Kurdish television.
On Easter Sunday, the cardinal will visit the communities of Sulaymaniyya and Kirkuk.
Finally, "The resurrection is the fundamental point of our faith, and not only in this time of trial and sorrow,” said Fr Janan.
“In our Eastern tradition, we never dwell upon to the cross. The cross is not a curse, but a tool of glory, which refers to the resurrection."
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