Why Iraqi Christians are praying that the Pope's visit will bring an end to persecution

Iraq’s Al Tahira church had been used as a shooting range when Islamic State extremists were at the height of their power. 

But now, as His Holiness, Pope Francis’ plane touched down in Baghdad, flowers lined the Syriac Catholic church in Qaraqosh and brand-new stained-glass windows glinted in the sun to welcome him. 

In an historic event this weekend, for the first time ever, a Pope is visiting Iraq. 

And the significance of this Papal visit cannot be overestimated for Iraqi Christians, whose numbers have depleted by almost 90 per cent since the early 90s. 

The restoration of the church has been completed just in time for the occasion. But the miracle Iraqi Christians are praying for is that this visit will pave the way for persecution to end; allowing Christians to move back to their homelands in great numbers, to restore their country’s Christian legacy. 

“I cannot describe our happiness,” says Father Duraid, who has been practising songs with the children in the choir in the countdown to the Pope’s highly anticipated visit.  

“People in the world are going to know more about the Iraqi culture, civilisation and religion.  

“The world is going to know that there is a Christian presence in Iraq. We say to the world that we are here in our land and that with Jesus help we are going to stay. 

“All of us feel responsible to present our church in the best way we can. Some wear traditional clothes or sing in a choir, others have paved the street or painted the walls.” 

Iraq, whose Catholic denominations make up about 50 per cent of the Christian population, has had to wait a long time for this.  

A visit from Pope John Paul the second was cancelled last minute in 2000 by the then President Saddam Hussein. 

And when in 2019 President Barham Saleh invited the Pope, the Christian community had to wait again, this time due to the Covid pandemic. 

But this weekend it’s finally happening. The Pope is expected to tour the country stopping off at Baghdad, Mosul, Erbil as well as Qaraqosh where he will make an appearance at The Church of the Immaculate Conception.  

 

Al Tahira church before renovation. Pic: Open Doors UK and Ireland.

In a statement on his official Twitter page on Thursday, the Pope said: “My dear Christian brothers and sisters from Iraq, who have testified to your faith in Jesus amid harsh sufferings: I cannot wait to see you.  

“I am honoured to encounter a Church of martyrs: thank you for your witness!” 

Father Ammar, who has been overseeing the work on Al Tahira church, told our partners in Iraq: “I am so happy that that the Pope will visit us, we have been waiting for it for so long. 

“This is a real encouragement for our faith.  It is important to have the Holy Father in our midst, to share our pain with him and to pray with us. 

“This church was severely damaged by ISIS. The renovation of the church was already ongoing when we heard that the Pope was coming to visit us.  

“Then we speeded up the renovation, so we will be ready to accept the Pope in a finished church.” 

But the Holy See isn’t only coming to Iraq to boost the morale of Iraqi Christians, he is also hoping to encourage interreligious dialogue and peace.  

This is crucial in a nation which is ranked on the 11 on The World Watch List, Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. 

Apart from meeting religious leaders, the pontiff will visit Ur, the birthplace of Abraham, a forefather that both Christians, Muslims and Jews have in common. 

In Karamles, a village not far from Qaraqosh, Christians are eagerly awaiting the occasion.  

Village priest, Father Thabet said: “We hope that the visit of Pope leaves a great impact on the authorities in Iraq. 

“I hope it will encourage the democratic process so that the government of Iraq will look into the persecution the Christian community is dealing with. Right now, the rights of Christians and other minorities are violated.” 

The priest also hopes that the authorities will be reminded of the need for the homes of Christians to be rebuilt.  

He said: “We have brought our needs to their attention before, and I hope the Pope visit will serve as a reminder of our requests.” 

At Open Doors, we work to strengthen the persecuted church and through local partners we have been working closely with the Iraqi church for more than 20 years.  

We work with all denominations, including the two Catholic denominations in Iraq, Syriac Catholic and Chaldean Catholic. 

The church in Iraq is one of the oldest in the world but it’s threatened with extinction. 

When IS fighters seized Mosul in 2014, Christians fled their homes in their thousands.  

According to Open Doors’ World Watch Research, since the territorial defeat of IS, the main source of pressure on Iraqi Christians has been from Shiite militias backed by Iran.  

The Assyrian Church of the East, the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Syrian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Armenian Orthodox Church are all seriously affected by persecution, discrimination and intolerance, especially from militant Islamic groups and non-Christian leaders. 

This visit is an invitation for the Iraqi government and other political and religious actors, to show serious commitment to protecting the historic presence of Christians in Iraq.

For that to happen, there needs to be an end to the legal discrimination Christians face; people must be allowed to choose their own religion; and Christian areas must be protected from land grabbing and the illegal seizing of properties.

As the Pope touches down at Baghdad International Airport today, we will be praying that this incredibly significant state visit will inspire favour for Christians in Iraq. 

 

 

Rami Abed Al-Masih is Open Doors International advocacy regional manager for the Middle East and North Africa.