Pence meets with Iraqi archbishop ahead of Middle East trip

Washington D.C., Dec 4, 2017 / 17:16 pm

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met with Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of Erbil on Monday for a "substantial discussion" on the needs of persecuted Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq.

"I updated him on the situation facing our people and expressed our hope that peace would soon come to Nineveh," Warda said in a statement about the Dec. 4 meeting.

Since 2014, the Islamic State has forced thousands of Iraqi Christians to flee their homes after telling them they must convert to Islam, pay an exorbitant tax, or be killed. Many of these Christians have resettled in or around Erbil.

Warda has often spoken out on behalf of persecuted Christians in the Middle East, and was in the United States for "Solidarity in Suffering," a Week of Awareness for Persecuted Christians, an event that began on Nov. 26 and was co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In a tweet, Pence said his meeting with Warda was an "(i)mportant dialogue...about (President Trump's) commitment to directly assist persecuted Christians & religious minorities in Iraq. I'm heading to the Middle East this month to discuss U.S. plans to accelerate funding those impacted in the region."

Warda said that "On behalf of our people, I expressed our gratitude for his promise of swift assistance to our communities who suffered genocide at the hands of ISIS."

"I also mentioned to the Vice President the importance of the aid and support we have received from the Knights of Columbus in the United States, and Aid to the Church in Need in Europe," he added.

Pence's coming trip to the Middle East is part of a series of conferences he has attended regarding the plight of Christians in the region. In October, Pence addressed In Defense of Christians' annual Solidarity Dinner for Christians in the Middle East. The vice president said groups such as the Islamic State have singled out Christians for persecution and noted that Christianity could disappear from some parts of the Middle East.

"Let me assure you tonight, President Trump and I see these crimes for what they are – vile acts of persecution animated by hatred for Christians and the Gospel of Christ," Pence said at the time.

Warda said that during their meeting, he gave Pence a crucifix from Karemlesh, a town near Mosul which was "targeted and badly damaged when ISIS invaded."

"I also assured him of our prayers and told him that if he ever visits Iraq, he is most welcome in Erbil."