(Vatican Radio) The Latin Rite Archbishop of Baghdad, Jean Sleiman, says he prays that the nomination of a new prime minister in Iraq will lead to the formation of a more inclusive government for all Iraqis. In an interview with Vatican Radio, he also expressed his concern about the tragedy of the continuing humanitarian emergency facing Christians and other minorities forced from their homes in northern Iraq.
Listen to this report by Susy Hodges that includes brief sound clips in Italian and English from the interview with Archbishop Sleiman:
“Speaking about the nomination of Haider al Abadi as Iraq’s new prime minister, Archbishop Sleiman said he prays that the new premier will be able to form a government that represents everyone and thus open the road towards a normalization of the country, allowing it to recover from its current turmoil.
When asked about the humanitarian crisis facing Christians, the Yazidis and other minorities in northern Iraq who have been forced to flee their homes following the advance of Islamic State militants, Archbishop Sleiman described it as a tragic situation and stressed that it remains an emergency for these displaced people who have lost everything. He also noted that another small minority in Iraq who have been attacked by the Islamic State militants and forced to flee are the Kurdish Shiites but said nobody is talking much about their plight.
The Iraqi archbishop says the international community too, needs to change its policies towards this region. He concluded by saying peace is more precious than petroleum.”
