By Baghdadhope
The 'coups de théâtre' concerning the issue of visas to young Iraqi Christians who would like to be present at the next World Youth Day in Sydney never ends.
Denying the journey of Father Bashar Warda to Amman announced to SIR by the Chaldean bishop of Australia and New Zealand, Mgr. Jibrail Kassab, and confirming his presence in Erbil, Father Rayan P. Atto explained to Baghdadhope the timing issues he is worried about: "This evening a person in charge will leave for Amman. We pray that everything goes well, that the Australian Embassy in Jordan will issue the visas tomorrow at last because this man must have time to return to Erbil and there are no many flights from Amman."
If the visas are granted tomorrow how can you organize your journey?
"We trust in Divine Providence. As for us we booked, but not yet confirmed, the seats for the Erbil-Dubai-Sydney flight on Tuesday night. It's really a race against time."
When do you think you will have the confirmation of your departure?
"At this point, after so many troubles, I will feel sure only once flying to Australia"
Father Rayan, the Australian Embassy, declared its willingness to grant visas for 8 persons designated to carry the Cross, can you explain us better?"
"During the contacts that in the past months we had with the organizers of World Youth Day, we sent a list of names of volunteers who asked to carry the cross during the Way of the Cross path. It seems to us that it can be a symbolic gesture also of the suffering of Iraqi Christians and their deep faith. We had the assurance that the 8 volunteers could carry the Cross for a stretch, and we really hope that this dream can come true."