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 strength to rebuild the devastated nation.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis traveled south from Baghdad to the ancient city of Ur to hold a historic interfaith meeting on Saturday, the second day of his apostolic visit to Iraq.
The setup was grim, but poignant: a simple, tent-like structure, with white curtains to shield the participants from the sun, stood next to Abraham’s house. In the background the incredibly well-preserved remains of a 4,000-year-old Sumerian temple with adjoining residential complex and palaces known as the Great Ziggurat of Ur.
After the meeting, the Pope gathered Muslims, Jews, representatives of the Christian churches in Iraq, and members of Iraqi religious minorities, including the Yazidis and Sabaeans, who together invoked the Lord for peace, reconciliation and the strength to rebuild the conflict. . ravaged 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 goodwill, we thank you for giving us Abraham, a great son of this noble and beloved land, to be our common faith father.
We thank you for his example as a man of faith who obeyed you completely, left his family, his tribe, and his native land, and set out for a land he did not know.
We also thank you for the example of courage, resilience, strength of mind, generosity, and hospitality that our common father has given us in faith.
We thank you in a special way for his heroic faith, evidenced by his willingness to sacrifice even his son in obedience to your command. We know this was an extreme test, but one he came out victorious nonetheless, as he relied unconditionally on you, who are merciful and always have the opportunity to start over.
We thank you because by blessing our father Abraham, you made him a blessing to all nations.
We ask you, the God of our father Abraham and our God, to give us strong faith, a faith rich in good works, a faith that opens our hearts to you and to all our brothers and sisters; and a boundless hope capable of discerning your fidelity to your promises in any situation.
Let each of us testify to your loving concern for all, especially refugees and displaced people, widows and orphans, the poor and the sick.
Open our hearts to mutual forgiveness and in this way make us instruments of reconciliation, builders of a more just and fraternal society.
Welcome to your abode of peace and light all those who perished, especially the victims of violence and war.
The authorities help to search and find the victims of kidnapping and in a special way to protect women and children.
Help us to care for the earth, our common home, which you have given to all of us in your kindness and generosity.
Lead our hands in rebuilding this land and give us the strength needed to help those who are forced to leave their homes and land behind so that they can return to safety and dignity and begin a new, serene and prosperous life . Amen.