Ten years after the Islamic State’s brutal massacre of Christians and Yazidis, Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Patriarch of Baghdad, shares his thoughts with Vatican News. He emphasizes that the suffering has united all Iraqis and that everyone is responsible for one another.
Cardinal Sako recalls the devastating events of August 6, 2014, when 120,000 Iraqi Christians were forced to flee, and the Yazidi people suffered an attempted extermination. He acknowledges that while ISIS has been defeated, its ideology remains strong.
The Cardinal expresses concern about the lack of faith in the future among Iraqis, leading to emigration. He urges patience and reassures that “this evil will not last.”
Cardinal Sako highlights the need for a modern, democratic, and civil state where everyone has equal rights and duties. He emphasizes the importance of dialogue and education to change the mentality underlying wars and revenge.
He also criticizes the West for its indifference and focus on profit over moral and spiritual values.
The Cardinal’s message is one of hope and unity, emphasizing that we are all responsible for one another and that our actions will be judged by God.