The Pope at Mass in Erbil: the Church in Iraq is alive

Flee from the temptation of revenge with the power of forgiveness that comes from Jesus. Thus Francis at the homily at the celebration presided over at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, in which he praises the commitment of the Iraqi Church alongside the needy, amidst "visible and invisible wounds" . As Jesus chased the merchants out of the temple, so we are called to "cleanse our hearts" of human temptations and logics, to "get our hands dirty" for our brothers, to become "craftsmen of a new social order", in which there is no it is space for displays of strength or duplicity of hypocrisy.

Fausta Speranza - Vatican City The power and wisdom of God are revealed "with mercy and forgiveness": the Pope underlines this, on the third day in Iraq celebrating Mass, in the presence of the authorities and religious representatives, in the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, where he enters - only time during this trip - on board the popemobile, therefore with the possibility of greeting the people present even within the limits of the anti Covid-19 regulations. In the stadium, with a capacity of 28 thousand seats, about 10 thousand have been authorized for the pandemic. Orderly, but warm and joyful, the welcome reserved for Francesco amidst songs with a marked Middle Eastern musicality. There are many female headdresses, even in the choir prepared for the celebration, typical of the local tradition. On the large white stage in the center of the Stadium, next to the altar, a special presence: the statue of the Virgin of Karemlesh who, struck by the fury of the self-styled Islamic State, was left without hands, a sign of dramatic days lived during the alleged caliphate , but also a symbol of the faith of those who put themselves back in the hands of the Lord in any case. (Listen to the report with the Pope's voice)

The testimony of the Iraqi Church In his homily, Francis recalls, once again, how many in Iraq bear "the wounds of war and violence, visible and invisible wounds" and underlines the living testimony of Christians: The Church in Iraq, with the grace of God, has done and is doing much to proclaim this wonderful wisdom of the cross by spreading Christ's mercy and forgiveness, especially to those most in need. Even in the midst of great poverty and difficulties, many of you have generously offered concrete help and solidarity to the poor and the suffering. This is one of the reasons that prompted me to come on pilgrimage among you to thank you and confirm you in faith and witness. Today, I can see and touch that the Church in Iraq is alive, that Christ lives and works in this holy and faithful people of his.

God saves from the need for revenge and from the duplicity of hypocrisy And the Pope recalls that "God frees us from a way of understanding faith, the family, the community which divides, which opposes, which excludes" and then underlines: "It strengthens us, because we know how to resist the temptation to seek revenge, which plunges us into a spiral of endless retaliation." With reference to the Gospel of the day, which narrates the expulsion of Jesus from the temple of Jerusalem of the money changers (Jn2, 13-25), Francis emphasizes that "as Jesus did not tolerate his Father's house becoming a market, so he desires that our heart is not a place of turmoil, disorder and confusion ”. The heart - he reiterates - must be cleaned, it must be ordered, it must be purified "from the falsehoods that dirty it, from the duplicity of hypocrisy".

Don't haggle faith for power and money The Pope recalls that we all have duplicity of hypocrisy, everyone - he repeats for the second time off the cuff - and explains that hypocrisies are "diseases that hurt the heart, that tarnish life, make it double". And he explains: “We need to be cleansed of our deceptive securities that trade faith in God with things that pass, with the conveniences of the moment. We need to be swept away from our hearts and from the Church the nefarious suggestions of power and money. " Francis offers an image for reflection: "To cleanse the heart we need to get our hands dirty: to feel responsible and not stand by and watch while the brother and sister suffer."

An awareness: "Alone we are not capable, we need Jesus. He has the power to overcome our ills, to heal our diseases, to restore the temple of our heart." Looking at Jesus and following Jesus means - the Pope reiterates - guarding ourselves from some "traps" of human logic. "How easy it is - he says - to fall into the trap of thinking that we must show others that we are strong, that we are wise ... into the trap of making us false images of God that give us security". In reality - he adds - it is the opposite. "We all need the power and wisdom of God revealed by Jesus on the cross." And Jesus, who "even when we turn our backs on him never abandons us to ourselves", not only purifies us from our sins - says Francis - but "makes us partakers of his own power and wisdom Wisdom of God and false certainties Francis explains how God's power and wisdom differ from our false need for certainty: “Jesus revealed this power and this wisdom above all with mercy and forgiveness. He did not want to do it with demonstrations of strength or by imposing his voice from above, nor with long speeches or performances of incomparable science ". Christ embodied "the fidelity of the Father's love; the fidelity of the God of the Covenant, who brought his people out of slavery and guided them on the path of freedom ".

The value of true testimony

The mandate for Christians is clear in the words of the Pope in Erbil: "With the power of the Holy Spirit he sends us, not to proselytize, but as his missionary disciples, men and women called to testify that the Gospel has the power to change lives." Called - the Pope affirms - to be “patient and courageous craftsmen of a new social order”. The Lord - he reminds us - promises us that, "with the power of his Resurrection, he can raise us and our communities from the rubble caused by injustice, division and hatred." The Lord wants us to be saved and "to become a living temple of his love, in brotherhood, service and mercy". So, the heart of Pope Francis’s encouragement from Erbil:

“With the eyes of faith, we recognize the presence of the crucified and risen Lord in our midst, we learn to welcome his liberating wisdom, to rest in his wounds and to find healing and strength to serve his Kingdom that comes into our world. By his wounds we have been healed; in his wounds, dear brothers and sisters, we find the balm of his merciful love; because He, the Good Samaritan of humanity, wishes to anoint every wound, heal every painful memory and inspire a future of peace and fraternity in this land. " Thus, - the Pope recalls - through the strength of Christ and his Spirit, what the Apostle Paul prophesies to the Corinthians takes place: "What is foolishness of God is wiser than men, and what is weakness of God is more strong of men "(1 Cor 1:25): And therefore - he adds -" Christian communities made up of humble and simple people become a sign of the Kingdom to come, the Kingdom of love, justice and peace ".

In closing, the prayer to Mary, "who was associated with the passion and death of her Son and shared in the joy of his resurrection", so that "he may intercede for us and lead us to him, the power and wisdom of God."

Thanks to the Pope by Monsignor Warda

The Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, Monsignor Bashar Warda, at the end of the Mass, addressed heartfelt words of thanks to the Pope underlining: "In the name of all the people gathered here and those who are watching us all over the world". The archbishop said: "First of all, we thank you for your courage, for having come here, in this troubled country of ours, a land so full of violence, this place of endless disputes, displacement and suffering for the people; and for having done so in this time of pandemic and global crisis: this makes Christ's words 'do not be afraid' concrete for us. " The archbishop stressed: "Your courage flows in us". And then he added: "We thank you for your prayers for the persecuted and the marginalized, here in Iraq and throughout the world. We know that you have continued to pray for us in all our times of darkness. We know that through your prayers , we have never been forgotten. We know that with your prayers you continue to urge this shattered world and this shattered country to find a period of peace, humility and prosperity, dignity of life and prospects for all. " Then the precise reference to the message that the pope leaves to Iraq: "We thank you for the message of peace that you have brought to Erbil and all of Iraq. Your powerful message of brotherhood and forgiveness is now a gift for all the people of 'Iraq which leaves us - each of us in this country - an enduring responsibility to continually give life to His message in our daily life, from now on.

VATICAN NEWS ~ ITALY ~ HOLY SEE PRESS : (Translated to English 03/07/2021) Per https://www.vaticannews.va/it/papa/news/2021-03/papa-francesco-iraq-erbil-messa-stadio-perdono-misericordia-dio.html