The Pope Francis sent Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples to Iraq to express sympathy and show the Pope’s concern and the Church’s fellowship with Catholic followers and people being threatened by IS forces.

To be in communion with the Pope and sympathy with sufferings and losses of Catholics and people in Iraq, Archbishop Paul Bùi Văn Đọc, President of Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam issued a message to all bishops, priests, clergymen and Catholic followers under the Viet Nam Catholic Church regarding prayer for peace in Iraq. The message said: “… through Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State, I’d like to convey the Holy Father’s intention to all Catholic brothers and sisters: to pray in communion with Him for peace soon returning to this homeland of ancestor Abraham. May God bless Archbishops, Bishops, priests, clergymen, clergywomen and all Catholic brothers and sisters”./.

MG