Iraqi Christians Archives

Iraqi cardinal calls for religion, state separation one month after papal visit

Apr 6, 2021

One month after Pope Francis’s historic visit to Iraq, one of the country’s top Catholic prelates has made the bold suggestion of enforcing a stricter separation between religion and the state.

By Elise Ann Allen

Pope gives $350,000 to help suffering Iraqi families

Mar 31, 2021

Before returning to Rome from Iraq March 8, Pope Francis left $350,000 to assist families still suffering the impact of conflict or in dire straits because of the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, said Cardinal Louis Sako, the Baghdad-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church.

By Catholic News Service

Syriac Catholics, led by patriarch, process through streets of Qaraqosh

Mar 30, 2021

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, visiting from the patriarchate in Beirut, led about 20,000 Christians through the streets of Qaraqosh Palm Sunday, March 28.

By Catholic News Service

Top Iraqi Catholic praises return of Christian-owned property

Mar 22, 2021

One of Iraq’s top Church officials has praised the recent return of several confiscated properties belonging to Christians and other minorities, saying the move is one that could hasten the return of families who left the country due to injustice and persecution.

By Elise Ann Allen

Patriarch: Iraqi Christians hope goodwill from papal trip carries over

Mar 20, 2021

Political leaders had “very nice words” during Pope Francis’s early March trip to Iraq, but now Christians pray “that those words, those declarations, will be applied on the daily level, on the ground,” said Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan.

By Doreen Abi Raad

Iraqi woman who met the pope sees little chance for change

Mar 12, 2021

The story of Doha Sabah Abdallah’s personal tragedy and loss deeply resonated with Pope Francis during his historic visit last weekend to the northern Iraqi town of Qaraqosh, once devastated by Islamic State group militants.

By Samya Kullab

Reverberations of pope’s Iraq visit felt after Francis is gone

Mar 10, 2021

Even though Pope Francis has left Iraq, there have been several significant developments in the country that observers are already crediting to the papal visit.

By Elise Ann Allen

Papal trip to Iraq influences Muslims beyond Iraq’s borders, analyst says

Mar 8, 2021

Pope Francis’s historic visit to the Middle East’s most conflict-riven nation gives hope and comfort to Iraqis of all faiths, and some would even say to Arabs beyond Iraq’s borders.

By Dale Gavlak