Lyons’ archbishop revisits refugees

Cardinal PHILIPPE Barbarin, the Archbishop of Lyons, has led a second Catholic delegation to Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan to visit Christians who took refuge there from Islamic State (IS) militants who seized their cities of Mosul and Qaraqosh last summer, writes Tom Heneghan.

The cardinal celebrated Mass in a refugee camp and led over 5,000 people through Irbil’s Christian quarter in a candle-lit procession modelled on the  Festival of Lights march held in Lyons every 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

“We want artisans of peace to stand up, certain that ‘it is better to light a lamp than to curse darkness’,” Barbarin said.

During the procession, a large screen showed a video from Pope Francis, who told the refugees the French prelate “brings you the concern and the love of the entire Church”.

The Pope said Iraq’s Christians were like reeds that bend in the wind but don’t break. “You have the strength to carry forth your faith, which is a testimony to us. You are God’s reed today!” he said in Italian, with Arabic subtitles.

About 100 Catholics from Lyons accompanied the cardinal, who visited Mosul in July shortly before it fell to IS. Lyons’ archdiocese, city government and individual donors have financed housing for about 250 refugee families near Irbil.