In a letter to Mgr Maroun Laham, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, to mark the first anniversary of the flight of refugees from Mosul and the Nineveh Plain, Pope Francis says the latter “are the martyrs of today, humiliated and discriminated against for their faith in the Gospel.” He calls for international action against this “unacceptable crime". Italian Bishops’ secretary Mgr Galantino will be in Jordan from 6 to 9 August.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In a letter addressed to the Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem and Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan, Maroun Laham, Pope Francis expressed a desire “to give voice” to those who suffer “atrocious, inhuman and inexplicable persecutions,“ share their pain, and give help to “hundreds of thousands of refugees”. To achieve this, the pontiff has appealed to the international community to take action against the “unacceptable crime” of persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.

Mgr Nunzio Galantino, secretary general of the Italian Bishops' Conference, delivered the letter today to mark the first anniversary of the arrival of Iraqi refugees from Mosul and the Nineveh Plain in camps in Jordan. During his visit, he is set to travel to several over them before he leaves on Sunday.

Noting the tragedy of refugees, the Holy Father says, “Time and time again I have wished to give voice to the atrocious, inhuman and inexplicable persecutions of those, who in many parts of the world – and especially amongst Christians – are victims of fanaticism and intolerance, often under the eyes and in the silence of all. They are the martyrs of today, humiliated and discriminated against for their faith in the Gospel.”

The “Church,” he adds, “does not forget and [. . .] does not abandon her children who have been exiled on account of their faith: they must know that a daily prayer is raised for them, and that we are grateful for the witness they offer.”

Likewise, “My thoughts also go to the Communities that have not looked away and are taking care of these brothers of ours. You proclaim the resurrection of Christ by sharing the pain and by giving help to hundreds of thousands of refugees. Bowing before the misery that risks stifling their hope, your fraternal service illuminates the dark moments of their existence.”

Francis goes on to say, “may world opinion be more attentive, sensitive and sympathetic before the persecutions carried out against Christians, and in general, against religious minorities.”

“I renew my hope that the international community will not assist in silence without taking action in the face of this unacceptable crime, a crime that constitutes an alarming drift from the most basic of human rights which prevents a rich cohabitation between peoples, cultures and faiths.

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