Yesterday, the Italian Cardinal Filoni stopped-over in the Jordanian capital of Amman yesterday, during his Pope requested visit to Iraq to express his closeness to Iraqi Christian families.
According to Fides, the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pope’s personal envoy to Iraq, visited two parishes that welcomed Iraqi refugees as well as meeting with the head of Caritas Jordan.
Last week, the Vatican announced the Pope was sending Cardinal Filoni back to Iraq to express the Pontiff’s closeness and affection, and his unity in prayer with the many Iraqi Christian families.
In August 2014, Cardinal Filoni was sent by Pope Francis to the country to similarly express spiritual closeness to the suffering peoples and bring the solidarity of the Church.
The Vatican statement last week announcing the Vatican official’s upcoming visit noted the envoy was being sent specifically to support the «Christian families and other groups of victims who were expelled from their homes and their villages, particularly in the city of Mosul and the Nineveh plain, many of whom had taken refuge in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan.»
In Amman, Cardinal Filoni said he saw the preparation for the reception of about 20 families, noting, “I admired the generosity of so many.»
«It is nice to see that these families are able to regain their dignity and an atmosphere of friendship.»
In the parish of Mary, Mother of the Church, he noted, there is an afternoon school for the children of refugees. «About 300 children. There is also an English course for adults and a small club for adult men.»
Last night, Cardinal Filoni left for the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
