교황님께서 금년, 2021년 3월 5일부터 3월 8일까지 Iraq를 평화의 사도로서 공식적으로 방문하시었다. 바그다드(Baghdad), 모술(Mosul), 에르빌(Erbil), 등 전쟁의 포성과 화염이 다 가시기도 전에 순교자들의 피로 물든 땅(Terra martoriata)을 밟으셨다. 이슬람 국가를 가톨릭의 로마 교황께서 방문하시는 모습은 순교현장에서 형장을 걸어가시는 모습이었다. 교황성하의 발걸음을 실시간으로 함께 보면서 거룩한 순교자의 걸음을 볼 수 있었다. 1984년 10월 16일 성 요한 바오로 2세 교황께서 교황이 되신 후, 두 번째로 폴란드 모국방문을 당시 소련 공산당 정권 산하의 케이.지.비.에서는 신변안전을 책이질 수 없으니, 모국 재 방문을 포기하라고 하는데도, 한국103위 순교성인들의 첫 경축일 대미사를, 원래 9월 20일을 10월 14일 주일로 바꾸어 한국 신자들과 한국의 모든 주교님들과 대표 사제들과 함께 사도 성 베드로 대성당에서 성대히 봉헌하시고, 이틀 후에 순교형장을 향하던 한국순교자들을 생각하시며 용감히 모국방문을 하시어 마침내 폴란들의 민주화를 시작으로 나아가 소련 내의 많은 공산주의 위성국들의 민주화를 이룩하셨다. 이번 프란치스코 교황님의 이라크 방문으로 그리스도교와 이슬람의 영구적인 화목을 이룩하시는 큰 발걸음을 내딛으셨다. 뉴욕의 9.11 쌍둥이 빌딩 폭파 후, 미국의 공격으로 사담 후세인 (Sadam Hussein) 정권이 무너지고, 민주화과정에서 생명의 위험을 무릎쓰고 순교정신으로 이라크의 오늘을 위해 이룩하는데 희생을 바친 당시 교황대사 필로니 대주교(Cardinal Ferdinando Filoni)의 공헌을 우리는 잊을 수가 없다. 전 세계 모든신자들이, 특히, 한국의 모든 신자들은 교황 프란치스코의 이라크 방문을 함께, 성하의 안전을 위하여 정성껏 기도하자 ! - Msgr. Byon, della Corea -

교황님께서 금년, 2021년 3월 5일부터 3월 8일까지 Iraq를,

평화의 사도로서 공식적으로 방문하시었다. 바그다드(Baghdad), 모술(Mosul), 에르빌(Erbil), 등, 전쟁의 포성과 화염이 다 가시기도 전에 순교자들의  피로 물든 땅(Terra martoriata)을 밟으셨다. 이슬람 국가를 가톨릭의 로마 교황께서 방문하시는 모습은 순교현장에서 형장을 외로히 걸어가시는 모습이었다. 교황성하의 발걸음을 실시간으로 TV를 통해 함께 보면서 거룩한 순교자의 걸음을 볼 수 있었다. 

얼마 후, 2012년 7월 초, 필자가 인류복음화성 장관실에서 추기경 임명 한달 후 처음 뵈올 때까지도, 필로니 대주교는 마치 전쟁터에서 갖 돌아온 피곤하고 지친 용사의 모습이 뚜렸하였었다. 이미 10여 년 이상 마닐라와 홍콩, 등에서 극동 아시아의 복음화를 위한 노고에 젊음을 바친 한 역전의 용사와 함께, 전 세계 모든 신자들이, 특히, 한국의 모든 신자들은 현 교황 프란치스코 성하의 이라크 외로운 방문을 실시간으로 함께하며, 성하의 안전을 위하여 정성껏 기도하면서, 이 시대 선교의 역사적 위업을 이루시는 보편교회의 거룩한 목자들, 성 요한 바오로2세 성하와 함께 순교선조들이 가신 길을 우리도 갈 수 있도록, 성모님께 기도하자! 

본 홈페이지의 [이번주 교황님의 말씀 중에] 메뉴 난 참조 ! 

Pope's prayer for victims of war in Iraq: Peace, justice and serene coexistence

By Vatican News staff writer

On Sunday morning, Pope Francis arrived at the Hosh al-Bieaa centre in Mosul where he prayed, amidst the ruins and along with the people of Iraq, for all the victims of war in the country and throughout the Middle East. 

Pope Francis speaks at the ruins if the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception

Before addressing the small crowd gathered amongst the ruins of of the four churches surrounding the meeting place, Pope Francis was greeted by the Archbishop of Mosul, Najeeb Michaeel. He then heard the testimony of a Catholic priest and a Sunni Muslim, victims of the terror that rampaged through the city of Mosul.

 

Three thoughts Before his prayer, the Pope shared his own thoughts, centred on three main ideas: 

 

If God is the God of life – for so He is – then it is wrong for us to kill our brothers and sisters in His Name.

 

If God is the God of peace – for so He is – then it is wrong for us to wage war in His Name.

 

If God is the God of love – for so He is – then it is wrong for us to hate our brothers and sisters.

Then the Holy Father invited all those present, whether near or far, to "join in praying for all the victims of war," and for ourselves. "May all of us," he added, "whatever our religious tradition, live in harmony and peace, conscious that in the eyes of God, we are all brothers and sisters." 

 

The prayer Pope Francis then went on to recite his prayer. He prayed to God that "from beyond the sea of suffering and death, from beyond all temptations to violence, injustice and unjust gain" He might accompany His sons and daughters with a Father’s tender love. 

He noted that we have "often forgotten your counsels of peace and harmony" and at times shown indifference. After a brief moment of silence, the Pope went on to ask: "Teach us to realise that you have entrusted to us your plan of love, peace and reconciliation, and charged us to carry it out in our time, in the brief span of our earthly lives." 

 

He concluded with a prayer both for the deceased and for "those who caused such harm to their brothers and sisters." May they repent, he added. 

 

The site 

 

The Hosh al-Bieeya (Church Square) in Mosul holds the ruins of four Christian churches, referred to by the Pope in his prayer. The four churches of the ancient Christian community were destroyed by the so-called Islamic State. In Mosul alone there are over 30 churches that have been completely destroyed. None of them have been rebuilt yet. 

A view of several historic Churches of Hosh al-Bieaa damaged by so-called Islamic State militantshe occupation of 

Mosul

Between June 2014 and July 2017 Mosul was occupied by the Islamic State. An estimated half a million people, including more than 120,000 Christians, fled from Mosul, which had a population of 1,846,500 in 2004. The city has been subjected to systematic devastation and this has led to the destruction of, among other things, numerous churches, the mausoleum of ‛Awn ad-dīn, Nabī Yūnis (the mausoleum of the prophet Jonah) and a section of the walls of the site of Nineveh, as well as that of rare manuscripts and more than 100,000 books preserved in the Library, archaeological finds and numerous statues in the collections of the Nineveh Museum.

Pope Francis is seen in front of ruins at Hold al-Bieaa in Mosul

In June 2017 the Islamic State, encircled by government forces, and with control of the old city alone, destroyed the mosque of Mūr ad-dīn, the symbolic place of the Caliphate, which, however, a few days later was recaptured by the Iraqi army along with a part of the medieval area of the city.

In July 2017, after nine months of fighting, Mosul was liberated.

Full text of Pope Francis' prayer

Below, the full text of the Pope's prayer for victims of war:

Most High God, Lord of all ages, you created the world in love and never cease to shower your blessings upon your creatures. From beyond the sea of suffering and death, from beyond all temptations to violence, injustice and unjust gain, you accompany your sons and daughters with a Father’s tender love.

Yet we men and women, spurning your gifts and absorbed by all-too-worldly concerns have often forgotten your counsels of peace and harmony. We were concerned only with ourselves and our narrow interests. Indifferent to you and to others, we barred the door to peace.  What the prophet Jonah heard said of Nineveh was repeated: the wickedness of men rose up to heaven (cf. Jonah 1:2). We did not lift pure hands to heaven (cf. 1 Tim 2:8), but from the earth there arose once more the cry of innocent blood (cf. Gen 4:10). In the Book of Jonah, the inhabitants of Nineveh heeded the words of your prophet and found salvation in repentance. Lord, we now entrust to you the many victims of man’s hatred for man. We too implore your forgiveness and beg the grace of repentance:  Kyrie eleison!  Kyrie eleison!  Kyrie eleison!

                                    (Brief moment of silence)

Lord our God, in this city, we see two signs of the perennial human desire for closeness to you: the Al-Nouri Mosque, with its Al-Hadba minaret, and the Church of Our Lady of the Hour, whose clock for more than a century has reminded passersby that life is short and that time is precious.  Teach us to realize that you have entrusted to us your plan of love, peace and reconciliation, and charged us to carry it out in our time, in the brief span of our earthly lives.  Make us recognize that only in this way, by putting it into practice immediately, can this city and this country be rebuilt, and hearts torn by grief be healed. Help us not to pass our time in promoting our selfish concerns, whether as individuals or as groups, but in serving your loving plan. And whenever we go astray, grant that we may heed the voice of true men and women of God and repent in due time, lest we be once more overwhelmed by destruction and death.

To you we entrust all those whose span of earthly life was cut short by the violent hand of their brothers and sisters; we also pray to you for those who caused such harm to their brothers and sisters.  May they repent, touched by the power of your mercy.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. 

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