Vatican City, Mar 16, 2008 / 12:00 pm
At the end of the solemn celebration, Pope Benedict XVI expressed again his deep sorrow over the death of Archbishop of Mosul for Chaldeans, Monsignor Paulos Faraj Rahho, who tragically disappeared on February 29 and was found buried in a shallow grave outside of Mosul last week.
The Pope said the Archbishop's life is "a beautiful witness of fidelity to Christ, the Church and its people" and that despite numerous threats, the Archbishop remained with them.
Pope Benedict said these events prompted him to "raise a strong and heartfelt cry: enough with massacres, enough violence, enough hatred in Iraq!
With strong words of encouragement, he then addressed directly the people of Iraq.
"Beloved people of Iraq who have for five years born the consequences of a war that has destroyed civilian and social life…Lift your heads and in the first place rebuild your national life. Let reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and respect for civil coexistence among tribes, ethnic groups, religious groups, be the way of solidarity to peace In the name of God!
The Holy Father imparted his apostolic blessing upon the faithful and proceeded through the crowd in his popemobile.
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