By Baghdadhope Some years ago Msgr. Shleimun Warduni, Chaldean Patriarch vicar, while under treatment at the Hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza in San Giovanni Rotondo, (Italy) asked Padre Pio to intercede for his healing and especially for the peace in Iraq, his country, torn by decades of dictatorship, sanctions and wars.
At that time he expressed the wish to have in Iraq a statue of Padre Pio to spread among the Christian population there the knowledge of the Saint, of his work and his mission. The request, as Msgr Warduni told to Baghdadhope, aroused the enthusiasm of everyone, including the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Vieste and San Giovanni Rotondo, Msgr. Domenico Umberto D'ambrosio and of the Guardian of the Convent of Minor Capuchin Friars of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Brother Carlo Maria Laborde, who made their best to satisfy it.
Thus a beautiful statue of Saint Pio left Italy to Amman, the first step in its journey to Baghdad. In Amman the statue remained for two years held at the Apostolic Nunciature. The dangerous situation in Iraq made its transfer difficult. With the improvement of security conditions, however, the situation was solved. From Amman, the statue was tranferred to Erbil, in the northern Iraqi province of Kurdistan, and from there, at last, to Baghdad, where it arrived on last March 28.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," said Msgr. Warduni, "at the end of such a long journey the church of the Virgin Mary will host the statue and we are grateful to all those who made this dream possible."
"The statue" stated Msgr.Warduni, "has for now a temporary site in the courtyard but when the renovation work of the church will be completed it will be moved to its final location."
How much widespread is the cult of Saint Pio from Pietralcina in Iraq?
At that time he expressed the wish to have in Iraq a statue of Padre Pio to spread among the Christian population there the knowledge of the Saint, of his work and his mission. The request, as Msgr Warduni told to Baghdadhope, aroused the enthusiasm of everyone, including the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Vieste and San Giovanni Rotondo, Msgr. Domenico Umberto D'ambrosio and of the Guardian of the Convent of Minor Capuchin Friars of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Brother Carlo Maria Laborde, who made their best to satisfy it.
Thus a beautiful statue of Saint Pio left Italy to Amman, the first step in its journey to Baghdad. In Amman the statue remained for two years held at the Apostolic Nunciature. The dangerous situation in Iraq made its transfer difficult. With the improvement of security conditions, however, the situation was solved. From Amman, the statue was tranferred to Erbil, in the northern Iraqi province of Kurdistan, and from there, at last, to Baghdad, where it arrived on last March 28.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," said Msgr. Warduni, "at the end of such a long journey the church of the Virgin Mary will host the statue and we are grateful to all those who made this dream possible."
"The statue" stated Msgr.Warduni, "has for now a temporary site in the courtyard but when the renovation work of the church will be completed it will be moved to its final location."
How much widespread is the cult of Saint Pio from Pietralcina in Iraq?
"Not much for now" replied the bishop with optimism.
Does it mean that you will do your best to spread the news about his life and his works? And how?
"Some faithful read something about the life of the saint, but we will do more. We shall print a leaflet containing the main points of the life and works of St. Pio to be distributed to the faithful, when the statue will be placed in its final location there will be a plaque to recall the most important steps of his life, and my dream would be to print a booklet that explains in depth to our faithful the greatness of the Saint."
The joy for the arrival of the statue of Saint Pio anticipated the Holy Week. The news report of a completely different athmosphere from that of the previous years, even compared to the last year. Can you confirm the news?
"Definitely, on Palm Sunday the churches were full and the celebrations were longer because of the increased security. The faithful want to celebrate the Lord, want to meet to pray. Maybe in some church there will be celebrations in the late afternoon, something unthinkable before. "
Will all the churches in Baghdad be open for Easter?
"Some faithful read something about the life of the saint, but we will do more. We shall print a leaflet containing the main points of the life and works of St. Pio to be distributed to the faithful, when the statue will be placed in its final location there will be a plaque to recall the most important steps of his life, and my dream would be to print a booklet that explains in depth to our faithful the greatness of the Saint."
The joy for the arrival of the statue of Saint Pio anticipated the Holy Week. The news report of a completely different athmosphere from that of the previous years, even compared to the last year. Can you confirm the news?
"Definitely, on Palm Sunday the churches were full and the celebrations were longer because of the increased security. The faithful want to celebrate the Lord, want to meet to pray. Maybe in some church there will be celebrations in the late afternoon, something unthinkable before. "
Will all the churches in Baghdad be open for Easter?
"No, unfortunately not all of them. In some districts the situation is still difficult but we hope, with the help of the Lord, to return to normality. That all the country can return to normality and that all churches can re-open and welcome the faithful. We are working because this hope can become a reality. In the district of Mekanic, in the south of Baghdad, for example, the renovation of the church of Saints Peter and Paul is over."
Is it the church that the Americans pledged to restore along with that of St. James, Babel College and the major seminary?
Is it the church that the Americans pledged to restore along with that of St. James, Babel College and the major seminary?
"Yes, it is, though, I must say, the American contribution to its restoration has been minimal."
Another good news then, but in these last days the killings of some Christians in Kirkuk, Baghdad and Mosul made think of a resurgence of violence against the Christian minority ..
"Iraq is a country where the booby-trapped cars continue to kill. The seeds of evil are not yet dead. During the Easter we will pray our Lord to give us peace, that Iraq can once again become a normal country where harmony reigns among all. And we will not forget to pray for the victims and the survivors of the earthquake in Italy. Many Iraqis, and many Christians, have a special relationship with Italy and are following the news of that terrible event. We will pray for you as we know you in Italy have been doing for us since a long time ago."
Another good news then, but in these last days the killings of some Christians in Kirkuk, Baghdad and Mosul made think of a resurgence of violence against the Christian minority ..
"Iraq is a country where the booby-trapped cars continue to kill. The seeds of evil are not yet dead. During the Easter we will pray our Lord to give us peace, that Iraq can once again become a normal country where harmony reigns among all. And we will not forget to pray for the victims and the survivors of the earthquake in Italy. Many Iraqis, and many Christians, have a special relationship with Italy and are following the news of that terrible event. We will pray for you as we know you in Italy have been doing for us since a long time ago."