The Patriarch celebrated Mass in Mosul’s rebuilt Syriac Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation. It was the first Mass said there in more than five years. More than 500 faithful from across the Nineveh Plains attended. The church is the first, and so far only, rebuilt church in the city since it was taken by ISIS in June 2014. The Patriarch recently spoke with Aid to the Church in Need about his priorities for 2020:

“At least 50 percent of the 12,000 Syriac Catholic families who were uprooted have returned to Qaraqosh. Schools are open, some of them are rebuilt.

“However, charitable assistance is still needed to rebuild houses and to create jobs, since the Iraqi government is unable to respond to the needs of those who have been hurt, oppressed or uprooted.

“Our big challenge now is to convince the young generation to stay in their homeland to share in the restoration of peace and progress in the country.  They have lost hope for the future. This is our biggest challenge:  how to tell them that their presence is needed to bear witness to the Lord, living among a majority not sharing the faith with us.

“We are the remnants of Apostolic Churches and our very survival is threatened. If these Churches do not exist anymore in the Middle East, it will be a big loss not only for Christians in the Middle East but for all of Christianity.

“Our mission is to preach hope to our people.  We have to always hope, against all hope.  I keep telling our faithful to remember the sacrifices of our forefathers who endured oppression, hardship, and persecution for their faith.  We owe our faith to the endurance of our forefathers.

“It’s very sad to say, and I’ve said this many times:  Christians of the Middle East have not only been abandoned; they have been betrayed by the civilized countries of the West.

“This is not just a theory.  It’s the sad reality that we Christians in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria, have become endangered and our very survival is threatened. The responsibility of Western nations is very real and indisputable. Their opportunism created conflicts that have led to chaos.  It’s very sad.

“If the international powers want peace, they can make it happen. Because of their opportunism, they don’t work for the stabilization of the region.”

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 A growing number of Christians are contemplating emigration, just as happened during Lebanon’s civil war (1975-1990), when thousands of Lebanese Christians left for the West. Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai said Dec. 6: “Some embassies, which I will not name now, are facilitating the issue of emigration as if it is a second war to empty Lebanon of its people and Christians.” Aid to the Church in Need spoke about the situation in Lebanon with Melkite Archbishop Georges Bacouni of Beirut. He said:

“We are living like in an earthquake. We’re facing enormous economic problems, including a failing banking system. Since the protests began, many more people have lost their jobs, and now some are getting only half of their salary. This has a huge impact on families.

“NGOs from around the world have been taking care of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and this is appreciated. Now, with the new situation, will they consider helping the Lebanese people as well?

“Because of the economic crisis, Christians are facing the question of emigration, of looking for a better way of life. There’s a risk of losing the young generation: they don’t want to stay in Lebanon. There are too many question marks about the country’s future.

“The Church in Lebanon is going to face hard times as it has to care for more and more needy people. Church institutions—schools, universities, and hospitals—are already experiencing serious difficulties. People cannot afford to pay tuition or medical bills. We don’t want to make difficult decisions like closing schools.  Historically, Catholic schools in Lebanon have served Muslim and Druze students as well. Like Catholic universities, they are places of coexistence where young people can experience the culture of living together.

“For the first time, I see Lebanese from many confessions, many religions, united and trying to put sectarianism aside.  It’s beautiful. However, Church leaders have urged the demonstrators to carry out all their movements peacefully.

“The Church supports the people who are asking for an end to corruption, to have ministers who are experts in their domains and who would take measures to stop all forms of corruption. We hope a new government will be formed soon.

“Throughout this ordeal, Jesus is with us and He will not leave us. We pray and hope to soon see the light at the end of this dark tunnel.”

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