POPE FRANCIS EXPRESSES CONCERN FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA AND IRAQ.

POPE FRANCIS EXPRESSES CONCERN FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA AND IRAQ.

Pope Francis has expressed his concern

for Christian families and other victims of violence who

have been expelled from their homes and villages in Iraq.

A statement issued Friday by the Holy See’s Press Office

says the Pope is particularly concerned about those from

Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, many of whom have found

refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan. The press statement further says

the Holy Father is praying for the victims and hopes that

they will soon be able to return to their former lives in

their homeland where for centuries they have lived in good

relations with their neighbours.

In this coming Holy Week these families particularly share

in the injustice and sufferings of Christ, and as a sign of

unity, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the

Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will return

to Iraq to be with the expelled families and to pray with

them during this time of suffering.

Special Easter collection for Iraq's displaced Christians

The Diocese of Rome will be taking up a special collection

in parishes, and in a sign of solidarity, will be sending

traditional Italian cakes to the persecuted families of Iraq

so that they may be able to share in the joy of Easter.

The statement ends by saying that Holy Father would also

like to express his closeness to suffering families in

northern NIGERIA. The Holy Father has also asked the

local Episcopal Conference to join with him in extending a

similar sign of solidarity with those families.