In a Meeting with the Apostolic Delegation, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim: Muslims and Christians in Iraq Share the Challenges They Are Facing
Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, said Muslim and Christians in Iraq share basic doctrinal and behavioral issues not to mention the common challenges they are facing, adding that Christians represent a quality, not quantity, asset to the Iraqi society.
This came in a meeting between Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim and the representative of the Pope, Mons. Libero Andreatta, head of the Vatican pilgrimage association and the accompanying delegation, on Tuesday 17, 2013, in his Eminence's office in Baghdad.
His Eminence expressed his extreme pleasure of the visit made by the apostolic delegation to Iraq, saying Iraq is the country of civilizations and the great history and the openness, communication and partnership between all components of the Iraqi people would contribute to the development and progress of the Iraqi society in many fields. He also confirmed that protection of Christians and other components in Iraq is as undertaken with the same zeal with which Muslim are defended.
He also pointed out to the relation between the Vatican and Najaf al-Ashraf, reiterating the big rapprochement between both visions and in terms of coexistence. Here, he explained that the leader of the community, Imam Muhsin al-Hakim (may Allah sanctify his sole) has strong relations with Iraqi Christians, referring to the fact when Christians bid farewell and received the leader of the community, Imam Muhsin al-Hakim (may Allah sanctify his sole) back from his pilgrimage trip, insisting on carrying on along the path of fathers and ancestors in strengthening the relation with all components and segments of the Iraqi people.
For his part, the apostolic delegation thanked Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim for supporting the rights of Christians in Iraq, pointing to the fraternity and love ties between Iraqi citizens, Muslims and Christians and others, expressing the Pope's intention to bring the Christian pilgrims to Iraq in order to reinforce the fraternity ties with the Iraqi people.
