Pope Francis has urged the UN Secretary General to forcefully respond to the dramatic events taking place in Northern Iraq where Christians and other religious minorities are being persecuted.
In an unannounced briefing at the Holy See Press Office, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, told journalists that at around 11 a.m. this morning, Francis wrote to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, regarding the situation in Iraq.
The letter published by the Vatican today has “a great intensity,” he said, and begins with the Pontiff saying he writes it with a “heavy and anguished heart.”
Fr. Lombardi said that the message condemns the violent persecutions taking place in the nation and “reminds the UN of its charter,” as well as their responsibility to intervene.
“The Holy Father also references the non-Christian minorities suffering,” and stresses the need to help them.
It calls on the international community to take immediate action and to stop the humanitarian disaster currently taking place.
«The violent attacks that are sweeping across Northern Iraq,» writes Pope Francis, «cannot but awaken the consciences of all men and women of goodwill to concrete acts of solidarity by protecting those affected or threatened by violence and assuring the necessary and urgent assistance for the many displaced people as well as their safe return to their cities and their homes.»
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On Zenit’s Web page:
Full Translation: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-letter-to-un-secretary-general-on-dramatic-situation-in-northern-iraq
