By Rudaw
Iraq’s ambassador to the Vatican Sheikh Omar Barzinji speaking to Rudaw TV.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — In light of a recent Christmas visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region by Vatican’s Secretary of State Iraq’s ambassador to the Holy See says that persecution of Christian’s has never been a government policy. Continue reading →

‘Also includes a prohibition against the New Year’s celebration’
A ministry that works in support of persecuted Christians worldwide reports it had joyful news this holiday season: the government’s cabinet in Iraq declared Christmas a national holiday this year. Continue reading →

For decades, Christianity has been in steep decline in its homeland in the Middle East, and nowhere is that existential crisis clearer than Iraq.
ROME: For decades, Christianity has been in steep decline in its homeland in the Middle East, and nowhere is that existential crisis clearer than Iraq. A recent visit to the Continue reading →

Michael F. Haverluck (OneNewsNow.com)
A chief foreign diplomat in the United Kingdom warned that political correctness is hindering Christians from being helped in the Middle East, where they are “on the verge of extinction.”
“Yesterday, my family and I walked a short journey to our local church and enjoyed an Continue reading →

Elise Harris
A rainbow extends over rubble in the Iraqi city of Mosul, much of which was destroyed in the battle to liberate it from ISIS forces. (Credit: Vatican Media).
ROME – For decades, Christianity has been in steep decline in its homeland in the Middle East, and nowhere is that existential crisis clearer than Iraq. A recent visit to the Continue reading →

During Friday prayers, al-Sumaidaie said that it was “impermissible” for Muslims to celebrate Christmas or New Year. The Chaldean patriarch slammed such “rhetoric of hatred” that sows “divisions”. In his New Year message, he calls for openness and deeper sharing. Continue reading →

An Iraqi Syriac Catholic priest leads Christmas morning mass at the Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah Syriac Catholic Church, which was damaged and defaced during its occupation by Islamic State (IS) group fighters, in the predominantly Iraqi Christian town of Qaraqosh, in Niniveh province some 30 kilometres from Mosul, on Dec. 25, 2018. Continue reading →

Chris Mitchell
JERUSALEM – President Trump’s December 19th announcement to pull US troops out of northern Syria sent the Middle East into a tailspin. Suddenly major regional powers Russia, Turkey, Iran and the Syrian regime scrambled to seize the initiative and fill whatever vacuum America left in its wake. But in the center of this geo-political scrum Continue reading →

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke to Vatican News about his December 24-28 Christmas visit to Iraq. The cardinal also touched upon the Vatican’s February meeting on the protection of victims of sex abuse in the Church.
By Robin Gomes Continue reading →

John Sandeman
“Now is the time for Christian, Western countries, and for Christian churches and believers worldwide, to protect Christian people in NE Syria from falling victim to brutal war,” is an urgent plea from a Christian group based in northern Syria. Continue reading →

By Rudaw
Children pose for photos in front of a Christmas display in Sulaimani. Photo: Sartip Othman/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s ministry of religious affairs lashed out at a fatwa made by Iraq’s top Muslim cleric banning Islamic Continue reading →

Donald Trump is being warned that the withdrawal of US troops from Syria will put Christians and other minorities at risk of an ISIS resurgence.
The US president’s unexpected move shook allies and was quickly followed by the resignations of General James Mattis as Defense Secretary and Brett McGurk, the Continue reading →

John L. Allen Jr.
Pope Francis, right, and Iraq’s President Barham Salih, left, exchange gifts during their private audience at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (Credit: Claudio Peri/ Pool Photo via AP.) Continue reading →

Iraqi Christians pray in a church, as all Christian denominations in Iraq prayed to prevent war on Iraq November 22, 2002 in Baghdad, Iraq. NATO members have declared themselves united in backing U.N. efforts to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, but the 19-nation defense alliance stopped short of … Continue reading →

By NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican secretary of state urged Iraqi Christians who have endured years of Islamic extremist persecution to forgive, reconcile and rebuild their Continue reading →

Continuing his visit to Iraq during the Christmas season, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrates Mass in the Chaldean Cathedral of St Joseph in Ankawa
By Christopher Wells
Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Erbil, Iraq, Continue reading →

By CINDY WOODEN
Christians and Muslims in Iraq are called by the same God to rebuild a nation where peace, harmony and justice reign, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, during a Christmas visit to Baghdad.
Cardinal Parolin was scheduled to be in Iraq Dec. 24-28; he celebrated Christmas Continue reading →

The cabinet has amended the national holiday law following an appeal by Patriarch Sako for whom the birth of Jesus is “for all”. The Vatican Secretary of State is in Iraq where he has called on people to be “seeds of peace”. The government is clamping down on fake property sales that have especially affected Christians. Continue reading →

Nathan Glover
Christmas Day Declared a National Holiday in Iraq Pope Francis sent his trusted aide to Baghdad. The Iraqi administration has declared Christmas day, December 25, to be a national holiday in the country. The Cabinet has given the event nationwide recognition among all religions and not simply the Christians which were earlier the norm. The Continue reading →

Reuters
People light candles after a mass on Christmas at St George Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad, Iraq December 25, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier Al-SudaniPeople light candles after a mass on Christmas at St George Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad Thomson Reuters Continue reading →