Along with Muslims, Jews, representatives of various Christian Churches and other Iraqi religious minorities in the Iraqi city of Ur, Pope Francis prays for reconciliation, peace and the power to rebuild the devastated nation.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis traveled from Baghdad to the ancient city of Ur south to hold a historic interfaith meeting on Saturday, the second day of his Apostolic visit to Iraq.
The setup was sharp but gripping: a simple, tent-like structure with white curtains to protect the participants from the sun was placed next to Abraham’s house. In the background are the incredibly well-preserved remains of a 4000-year-old Sumerian temple with adjoining residential complex and palaces known as the Great Ziggurat of Ur.
After the meeting, the pope gathered in prayer Muslims, Jews, representatives of Iraq’s Christian churches and members of Iraqi religious minorities, including the Yazidis and Sabers, who together called on the Lord for peace, reconciliation and the power to resolve the conflict. to rebuild. afflicted nation.
This is their prayer:
Almighty God, our Creator, you love our human family and every work of your hands:
As children of Abraham, Jews, Christians and Muslims, along with other believers and all persons of good will, we thank you for giving Abraham, a coveted son of this noble and beloved land, to us as our common father to be in faith.
We thank you for his example as a man of faith, who obeyed you completely, left behind his family, his tribe and his homeland and was on his way to a land he did not know.
We also thank you for the example of courage, resilience, strength of spirit, generosity and hospitality that our common father put into faith.
We thank you in a special way for his heroic faith, shown by his willingness to sacrifice even his son in obedience to your commission. We know it was an extreme test, yet one from which he emerged victorious from the battle, as he relied unconditionally on you, who is merciful and always offers the opportunity to start anew.
We thank you that by blessing your father Abraham, you have made him a blessing to all nations.
We ask you, the God of our father Abraham and our God, to give us a strong faith, a faith that abounds in good works, a faith that opens our hearts to you and to all our brothers and sisters; and a boundless hope capable of distinguishing your faithfulness from your promises.
Make each of us a witness of your loving care for all, especially refugees and displaced persons, widows and orphans, the poor and the sick.
Open our hearts to mutual forgiveness and thus make us instruments of reconciliation, builders of a more just and fraternal society.
Welcome to your home of peace and relieve all those who have died, especially the victims of violence and war.
Assist the authorities in the effort to locate and locate the victims of kidnapping and in a special way to protect women and children.
Help us to take care of the earth, our common home, that you have given to us all in your goodness and generosity.
Guide our hands in the reconstruction of this country and give us the necessary strength to help those who are forced to leave their homes and lands behind, so that they can return in safety and dignity and live a new, peaceful and prosperous life. start. Amen.