CHIESA
The
Church’s
Contribution
to Reconstruction
Meetings with the bishops of the various Christian denominations and civilian
and diplomatic authorities, discussing the aid plan, which involves also the
Catholic humanitarian organizations
by Paul Josef Cordes
In recent
months, the Holy Father has repeatedly expressed his concern about current events
in Iraq. After the war, the Pope asked me to be the representative
of his closeness to those who have lately had to bear the sad consequences
of the war. My visit began on May 28th. Together with the Apostolic Nuncio,
Archbishop Filoni, I celebrated the Eucharist with the Catholics of that country
on three occasions: on May 29th in Baghdad, on May 31st in Mossul, in the Chaldaean
rite, and on June 1st in the Syrian-Catholic rite. As a result, I was able
to address the Christian community, still large in number, confirming the fatherly
union with them and the encouragement of the Holy Father.
During my visit, I had numerous meetings, in particular two group meetings
with more than ten bishops, with whom I reflected especially on the meaning
of the commitment to charity in the ecclesial mission. Moreover, I met with
various bishops from the other Christian confessions in Baghdad and Mossul,
as well as with civilian authorities: the General Director of the United Nations
Program for Development, Francis Dubois, the Mayor of Mossul, and several diplomatic
representatives. I also had the opportunity to visit some religious congregations
and the charity institutions run by them. Everyone expressed gratitude to the
Holy Father for his untiring commitment in favor of the Iraqi people and peace.
In accordance with the mandate I was given and the task of our dicastery (the
Cor Unum Pontifical Council), I was able to verify personally the country’s
needs in view of an aid plan, with the involvement of the Catholic humanitarian
organizations. They identified some of the areas needing intervention, such
as emergency aid, food, housing, health care, and education.
I want to confirm the contribution that the Catholic Church can make in favor
of a future in which the religious, cultural, social, and political rights
of all are recognized, and in which, in particular, the right is guaranteed
to Christians to profess their faith freely.
L’Osservatore Romano
June 4, 2003