IN IRAQ AND OTHER WAR-TORN AREAS OF OUR WORLD
Bishop Pates, the chairman of the Committee of International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked the U.S. bishops to invite the people of their dioceses to pray for peace in Iraq on Sunday, August 17. He included Patriarch Sako’s Prayer for Peace.
Bishop Pates recounted the struggles of Christians and others in Iraq who have faced the destruction, burning, and looting of churches, homes, and businesses and, under threat of the Islamic State (ISIS) to join their extremist brand of Islam, have fled for their lives. Accordingly, he urged Catholics to let their elected representatives know of their concern that humanitarian assistance reach Christian and other religious minorities who are suffering in Iraq, Syria, and other countries.
Bishop Pates also noted Pope Francis’ calls for peace in Iraq and his observation that “violence generates more violence; dialogue is the only path to peace.”
This is the Prayer for Peace by Patriarch Sako, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq:
