“Francisco’s arrival will be a medicine”

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There is expectation in the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Iraqi city for the arrival of Francis on March 7, where the Christian community has been restored from the long occupation of the Islamic State

Meanwhile, in Erbil an air strike reaches the international base and it is clearly perceived that war remains a threat.

(Vatican News) .- In Erbil, in northern Iraq, the Shiite militia “Guardians of the Blood” claimed the launch of rockets that during the night impacted the area between the airport and the base of international coalition forces, causing the death of a civilian contractor and injuries to at least 5 people. The outrage was expressed by newly appointed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Washington allies.

the attack occurs a few weeks after Pope’s trip to the country. On March 7, Francis will be in Qaraqosh, to meet with the Christian community at the Church of the Immaculate Conception rebuilt after its destruction by the Islamic State. The Iraqi city is preparing for this visit, he said father Georges Jahola, Rector among the organizers of the trip:

A. – We are preparing perhaps in a very simple way, as Pope Francis is simple in his relationship with the people, but with great seriousness. Just yesterday we had the meeting of young people who are practicing to receive the Pope with songs and are preparing spiritually to receive him. We are also preparing the Church because it was destroyed and burned. Restoration began a few months ago and we are in the final phase of work, which also covers the interior.

We have always followed, since the war in Iraq began again, the fate of Christians in the country. What does it mean to have the Pope among you, after so many losses and so much pain caused by Islamic State jihadism?

A. – Certainly, the Pope’s visit to us is like a remedy for the events that took place before: where there was violence, today comes peace, comes an authority that speaks both in the political sphere and in the ecclesial. And we need that. So the coming of the Pope is for us a kind of medicine: with him here we can certainly understand his message in depth.

The church of the Immaculate Conception had been destroyed by jihadists. In that sense, what does it mean to meet the Pope right inside this sacred and wounded building, and then come back here to celebrate?

A.- It is a sign of the tenacity we have, and of the tenacity of the Church throughout the world. Supporting a hard-hit community, even restoring a building, is a very important and significant sign because surely this Church was deliberately burned to give a message to this people: “They must not be here.” Going back with the Holy Father here means a lot and strengthens our existence here, it means going back to the roots of our history and our faith, and it tells us that the universal Church, represented by the Holy Father, is with us.

In many parts of his country there is still war, this is the news of the last hours. Overall, what is the situation in Qaraqosh? Is the city pacified? How do you live your day to day life?

A.- Since the city was liberated on October 23, 2016 there have been no signs of violence and that is why we have returned to our homes. The weather is very calm and peaceful, because the Christians in the city are majority and we sow what we have, so the positive things are more than the negative. Although the Pope’s visit is to Qaraqosh, where most of the faithful are Syrian Catholics, we invite the entire Nineveh Plain to participate in this event. To the Christians of all peoples, of all churches that exist: Orthodox, Catholic, Chaldean … All will be invited here to participate and enjoy with us at this time.

Is there a risk that you will not be able to attend these meetings because of the pandemic?

A. – We are also working on this. People want to abide by health regulations to reduce the contagion and not let this threat block Pope’s arrival. Of course, we are very aware of this problem.

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