Archbishop of Baghdad appeals for unity in Iraq

(Vatican Radio) As Iraqi troops move on Mosul to liberate the strategic city from the so-called Islamic State, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, has called for peace and national unity in Iraq.

Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:

In an appeal shared with AsiaNews, His Beatitude Louis Raphael Sako says he would like to “speak from the bottom of his heart to our Iraqi family as a whole”.

In such difficult and exceptional circumstances, he says, he feels the need to address common concerns and worries and warns that if “the voices of division, inflexibility and break up begin to rise, they may obstruct the operations of release”.

“I strongly believe – Patriarch Sako says – that we Iraqis are one family despite our different affiliations”.

And he calls on all to avoid accusations and blame and urges everyone to put an end to disputes and factional interests.

“Only by upholding the good of all Iraqis – he says -  will we be able to pave the path for real reconciliation, love, peace and the release of all occupied lands and hope for the establishment of a genuine and civil democracy that respects all.

Patriarch Sako also calls on the international community to take concrete steps to allow Iraq and the whole region to regain security and peace.

This kind of success – he concludes – would be a triumph for everyone and for international well-being.