Hostility, violence are betrayals of religion, pope says in Iraq ucanews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ucanews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Cindy Wooden • Catholic News Service • Posted March 6, 2021
UR, Iraq (CNS) Traveling to the birthplace of Abraham, Pope Francis urged believers to prove their faith in the one God and father of all by accepting one another as brothers and sisters.
From a stage set on a dusty hill overlooking the archaeological dig at Ur, Abraham’s birthplace about 10 miles from modern-day Nasiriyah, the pope called on representatives of the country’s religious communities to denounce all violence committed in God’s name and to work together to rebuild their country.
“From this place, where faith was born, from the land of our father Abraham, let us affirm that God is merciful and that the greatest blasphemy is to profane his name by hating our brothers and sisters,” the pope told the representatives.
Pope Francis and Iraq's top Shiite cleric have delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence, urging Muslims to embrace Iraq's long-beleaguered Christian minority during a historic meeting.