October 17, 2008

The Anglican Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, whose diocese includes Iraq, has expressed his strong solidarity with all Christians there at a time when they in particular are suffering a spate of violence.

The bishop recently visited Baghdad, where he met religious and political leaders, including major Shi'a and Sunni figures, as well as diplomats.

Speaking from Nicosia, Cyprus, he said:

"I am in close touch, as always, with our priest in Baghdad, Canon Andrew White, and with leaders of our congregations, especially at St George's church in the north-western suburbs. The threats, injuries, and deaths in the Mosul area are a deep grief to all Christians in the nation of Iraq and throughout the world, and fly in the face of centuries-long coexistence and toleration in the land, where Christian families have lived and prospered from near the very beginnings of our faith.

"I am glad to hear that key figures in both the Christian and the main Muslim communities are united in condemnation of the violence and are soon to meet.

"It is a comfort, too, to know that Muslim and Christian clerics and scholars meeting in the UK to discuss interfaith encounter, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by the Grand Mufti of Egypt, have joined in unequivocally declaring that no one should be persecuted or threatened on account of their religious faith.

"My prayers are for the whole nation of Iraq, and especially with the Christian Churches and their leaders, such as the deeply respected Chaldaean Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, and believers of all traditions, as well as our Muslim brothers and sisters."

The Anglican church of St George Baghdad regularly sees up to two thousand worshippers each week, all indigenous Iraqis. The chaplaincy led by Canon White also currently serves multinational congregations inside the International Zone of the city.

+ Bishop Michael Lewis

Anglican Communion News Service