Rome, Italy, Mar 2, 2010 / 09:21 am
The strong words of Pope Benedict XVI against anti-Christian violence in Mosul were acknowledged with gratitude by Iraqis, according to a bishop speaking from Iraq on Monday. Christians, Muslims and members of two other Iraqi minority groups peacefully protested in Baghdad, calling for an end to the violence and demanding protection.
Auxilary Bishop of Baghdad Shlemon Warduni spoke from the Iraqi capital with the Italian bishops' news agency SIR about the demonstrations and the reaction to the Pope's special greeting and call for government protection of minorities, especially Christians in Mosul.
"We are thankful to Benedict XVI, we know how much he cares about our community: we hope that his voice and has a resonance in the world and especially in the hard of heart," Bishop Warduni said.
The Pope's message, he added, offered "strong words which were full of hope that resound as an appeal to Christians to have confidence in justice and not to leave their country."