New York City, N.Y., Sep 28, 2019 / 05:01 am
As displaced Christians return to their homes in the Middle East, the Vatican Secretary of State encouraged U.N. representatives Friday to help rebuild a culture ravaged by the Islamic State.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke Sept. 27 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City during a panel discussion hosted by Hungary.
The panel was titled "Rebuilding Lives, Rebuilding Communities: Ensuring a Future for Persecuted Christians." It discussed the restoration of war-torn areas such as Iraq and Syria. In the spring the last sector of Islamic State territory in Syria was dislodged, but guerilla warfare throughout the two countries has continued.
Parolin discussed his recent visit to the Nineveh Plain of Iraq. He said his trip was both inspiring and difficult to see Christians return to the cities destroyed by the Islamic State.