By Baghdadhope
"The dream of young Iraqi Christians," says Father Atto "would be to be present at the next World Youth Day in Australia. A participation that would have a high symbolic value for them, members of a community that is suffering the isolation in which Iraq still lives, and for young Christians in the world who could exchange views directly with their Iraqi brothers, and not only through what the media report. "
On March 2007 Father Rayan P. Atto, parish priest of the Chaldean church of Mar Qardagh in Erbil, expressed a dream. Today, more than a year after, but less than two weeks before the start of the World Youth Day in Australia that dream has been broken.
Alternating sad and angry tones Father Rayan from Erbil explains to Baghdadhope the end of that hope: "Last week the Australian Embassy in Amman to which we referred to for the bureaucratic papers required for our attendance at the WYD told to Father Bashar Warda, our group leader, that the visas had been denied "
Why?
"Because of the fear that some of the participants of the Iraqi delegation would not return home seeking refuge in Australia"
Can you affirm that this fear is unfounded?
"Yes. I can affirm it. To be present at the World Youth Day in Sydney for young Iraqi Christians was not a system to leave their country. Most of the subscribers to the group come from north Iraq, a calm area. They have no reasons to flee and certainly would not have done it exploiting an opportunity linked to faith. We are not talking of a vacation, but of a sort of pilgrimage that would made those young people feel part of a community gathered to meet, exchange views, pray."
There is no hope then? If the Iraqi flag will wave in Sidney’s sky it will be only thanks to Iraqis already living abroad?
"Yes. There will be no youth from Iraq. The Embassy in Amman proposed to issue only 10 visas, but how can you reduce a group of nearly 170 people to 10? Father Bashar in turn asked at least the visas for the priests but even if I had a visa in my hands I wouldn’t go. How could I leave the youth of my parish who dreamt of this opportunity?"
Father Rayan, how did you prepare your participation at the WYD?
"From the bureaucratic point of view we began more than six months ago with the filling of the forms to request the visas that were forwarded to the Australian Embassy in Amman accompanied by a letter of introduction written by the Chaldean bishop of Amadhiya and Erbil, Mgr. Rabban Al Qas. Our group was registered under the name 'Iraq' and with the number 8335."
How many people should be part of the group?
"Among young people, seminarists, priests and some adults we would have been almost 170 people. Christians of the dioceses of Erbil, Baghdad and Mosul. From my parish church 35 young people asked to go to Australia."
And how did you prepare the journey of these young people?
"In recent months there have been many meetings. Some young people, for example, were prepared to participate not only as faithful but also as volunteers. We prepared the program of the World Youth Day and a guide to Sydney and places to visit in Arabic, and a poster entitled 'Iraq group for peace' with a map of Iraq and the logo of the WYD. We had even prepared the boys and the girls to sing the “Our Father” prayer in Latin in honour of the Pope. We had done so many things and now… now we feel disappointed, unhappy, depressed."
Certainly the cancellation of a such desired journey creates a sense of frustration. Will you organize something for the youth of your parish church?
"Not in the same days of the WYD. Between the 25 and the 30 of July, however, we’ll go camping at Lake Dokan, near Sulemaniya, we will stay together, sing, pray, even if we will surely think to the lost occasion. It would have been really nice to be able to show to the world the faith animating our young people, that makes us partakers of universal Christianity while remaining deeply connected to our traditions and to our country."
Last year you expressed the hope to be present at WYD in 2008. How did your feelings change?"
"I would lie saying that I am not disappointed, but at the same time I want to say that we, young Iraqi Christians, even if not physically present in Sydney will be together with all the youth of the world, and that we hope to bring our direct testimony at the next WYD. "
