In the place of the churches still in ruins destroyed by Daesh in the heart of a destroyed Mosul, Pope Francis ended his visit to this martyred Iraqi city with a very intense prayer for "all the victims of wars"
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The Pope began by warning: “If God is the God of life - and he is - it is not permissible for us to kill our brothers in his name.
If God is the God of peace - and he is - we are not permitted to wage war in his name.
If God is the God of love - and he is - it is not permissible for us to hate our brethren.
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Then he asked, in the presence of Catholic and Muslim dignitaries: "Let us pray together for all the victims of the war, so that Almighty God grants them eternal life and endless peace, and that he welcomes them in his very arms. magnets.
And let us also pray for all of us, so that beyond religious affiliations, we can live in harmony and peace, aware that in the eyes of God we are all brothers and sisters.
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But the Pope also prayed for the Islamic aggressors: "We entrust to you those whose earthly life has been cut short by the violent hand of their brethren, and we also implore you for all those who have harmed their brethren and their brothers. sisters: may they repent, touched by the power of your mercy.
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Then addressing "the Most High God, Lord of time and history", he implored "a tender love of the Father" against "the ocean of suffering and death, beyond the temptations of violence, injustice and iniquitous gain ”.
Because, “we men, ungrateful with regard to your gifts and distracted by our concerns and our too earthly ambitions, we have often forgotten your designs for peace and harmony.
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He concluded by imploring forgiveness: "Lord, as we entrust to you the many victims of man's hatred against man, we invoke your forgiveness and we implore the grace of conversion".
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Before leaving this place to go to the city of Qaraqosh, the Pope delivered this meditation on time: “in this city, two symbols testify to the perpetual desire of humanity to come closer to you: the Al-Nouri mosque with its Al Hadba minaret, and the Church of Our Lady of the Clock.
It is a clock that for over a hundred years has reminded passers-by that life is short and that time is precious.
Teach us to understand that you have entrusted to us your plan of love, peace and reconciliation, so that we realize it in time, during the brief passage of our earthly life.
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Adding: "Make us understand that it is only by putting it into practice without delay, that this city and this country can be rebuilt and that hearts torn by pain can be healed.
Help us not to spend our time in the service of our selfish, personal or group interests, but in the service of your loving plan.
And when we go astray, do that we can listen to the voice of the true men of God and get hold of ourselves in time, so as not to let ourselves be ruined again by destruction and death.
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