Baghdad: The Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, has voiced deep concern over the growing conflict in the Middle East and warned that Iraq could be pulled into a wider regional war.
Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Sako said the recent rocket and drone attacks linked to the confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States have created fear across Iraq. Several areas have come under attack in recent days, including the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan region, oil facilities near Basra in the south and areas around Baghdad’s airport.
The Patriarch said the situation is worrying because Iraq has already suffered years of conflict and instability. Recalling the chaos that followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he said the country knows very well the pain and destruction that war can bring.
He also pointed to Iraq’s sensitive social situation. The country shares a border with Iran and a large part of its population is Shiite, which makes the current tensions even more delicate. According to Cardinal Sako, there is growing fear that the conflict could expand and drag the entire region into a large scale war.
War is not the solution, he said, stressing that diplomacy and dialogue are the only ways to resolve the crisis.
Cardinal Sako also expressed concern about the safety of Iraq’s Christian communities, especially those living in the Nineveh Plains. Around fifty thousand Christians live in the region, which was occupied by the Islamic State group about a decade ago.
He warned that if violence spreads to this area, many Christians could be forced to leave their homes again. If that happens, he said, there is a real risk that they may never return.
The Patriarch said he has asked Christians across Iraq to pray for peace during Sunday Mass and to remain calm and hopeful despite the uncertainty.
At the same time, he urged Muslim religious leaders to speak out for peace and help reduce tensions. He recalled the historic meeting in Najaf in 2021 between Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, which strengthened the message of fraternity between Christians and Muslims in Iraq.
In a recent statement, Ayatollah Al Sistani also warned about the danger of a wider war and called on international leaders and countries of the region to make every effort to stop the conflict and seek a peaceful solution in accordance with international law.