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Pope to Iraqi Priests: 'Do Not Be Robbed of Hope'

At Wednesday’s General Audience, Francis Addressed Priests from Middle East Who Sang for Him When Greeting Arabic-speaking Persons

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A group of Iraqi priests, at the service of communities present in Europe, sang before Pope Francis during Wednesday morning’s General Audience, held yesterday in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.
They rose to sing at the moment the Pope greeted the Arabic-speaking persons present at the Audience. The Pope listened to them attentively.
Smiling, he greeted them, waving with his hand, before saying to the groups present: “Dear brothers and sisters, hope is that Christian virtue that we receive as a gift of the Lord and that makes us see beyond the problems, the sorrows, the difficulties, beyond our sins. It enables us to admire God’s beauty.”
“Therefore, do not let yourselves be robbed of hope!” exclaimed the Pope before adding: “May the Lord bless you !”
The Pope expressed himself in Italian, translated immediately into Arabic by a collaborator of the Roman Curia.

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Anita Bourdin

France. Journalist accreditated to the Holy See press office since 1995. Started Zenit in french in january 1999. Classical litterature (Paris IV-Sorbonne). Master in journalism (IJRS Bruxelles). Biblical theology (PUG, Rome).

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