By Baghdadhope
For the first words by the catholic hierarchy about the death of Mgr. Faraj Paulus Rahho Baghdadhope asks to its readers to check all the websites that have been following the news in these tragic days and also the ones that care about the fate of Iraqi Christians only when they can attract their readers by a simple but glittering word: “Morte.”
Surfing the web I found a piece of news that now, in the light of what happened today seems tragically ironic. The news is by a lone source: Washington Times, and it’s by John Phillips. If there have been no mistakes in its draft consider, please, the three sentences in bold type.
Benedict to seek US help for Iraqi Christians
March 13th, 2008
By John Phillips - Pope Benedict XVI, during his upcoming visit to Washington, plans to seek President Bush’s help in stopping the flight of Christians from Iraq, Vatican sources said yesterday. The German-born pontiff will cite the kidnapping of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho in northern Iraq nearly two weeks ago to illustrate his concern.
In my eyes they seem to be slightly conflicting, aren’t they? Think of it, please!
It is not by words, however, that today more than ever cannot fill the void in our hearts, that the death of Archbishop Rahho will be remembered in Iraq.
It 's with a voice broken with weeping that Father Rayan P. Atto, parish priest of the Chaldean church of Mar Qardagh in Erbil, said to Baghdadhope: "When the news came I was on the point of leaving with the youth of my church for a two-day camp near the monastery of Rabban Buya in Shaqlawa. We wanted, as we did last year, to be spiritually united with the youth who today in St. Peter's Square will meet the Holy Father in preparation for the World Youth Day. We wanted to recite the rosary and ask God for the release of Archbishop Rahho. Tomorrow a Via Crucis would prepare us for the Easter, and we would remember that the kidnapping of the bishop had occurred immediately after the celebration of the same rite in the church of the Holy Spirit. But it is all finished, there is no hope. We can, and we will do it today at 18.00, meet in the church and pray, this time for his soul and for peace in our country. "
There will be no words among those young. Only tears and pain.