Nuncio in Iraq Assesses Situation After One Year of War
FREE Catholic Classes
Interview With Archbishop Fernando Filoni
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 22, 2004 (Zenit) - At the first anniversary of the start of U.S.-led war in Iraq, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the papal nuncio in that country, offered Vatican Radio an assessment of the situation.
Q: Has the war ended?
Archbishop Filoni: The first chapter, of course, has ended, that of the battle between two armies, if it can be said that it ever took place.
In any case, this chapter is closed. Certainly, the chapter is still open of the normalization of a country which has difficulty in accepting its state of occupation and obviously all that stems from this.
Q: Is the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq desirable?
Archbishop Filoni: The question is very delicate, because at present there is a lack of real local authority and, having dissolved all the preceding structures, the problem is to know what security will there be, if at present help is lacking from those already on the scene. Therefore, to be specific: The country must not be left in chaos.
Q: A year ago, you, together with the ambassador of Cuba, were the only diplomat who stayed in Baghdad during the Anglo-American attack on the Iraqi capital. What do you remember of those days?
Archbishop Filoni: More than memories, I would like to mention the lesson we must all try to learn from this event and from the year that Iraq has lived through, with its repercussions on the international level.
Such complex problems cannot be resolved by war, without dialogue, without good will for peace. War does not resolve such complex problems. If anything, it actually aggravates them.
Q: How does the Iraqi population live today?
Archbishop Filoni: It is a population that does not have a real economy properly speaking.
It tries to survive with the little it can do, because of the lack of work. It has health problems, problems of electrical and telephone services, etc. It is a situation of survival, it is not a genuine economy.
But given that it is a rich country, there is the hope that the economic fabric will be reconstructed on which the development of the whole country can be based.
Q: Has the war harmed coexistence between Muslims and the Christian minority?
Archbishop Filoni: No, no. The Christians lived absolutely through the same problems as the Muslims, the same difficulties.
They have had their dead, they have had their wounded just like the whole population. The problem at present is not religious; it is a problem of the whole of Iraq.
Q: What has changed in the Catholic Church with the fall of Saddam Hussein?
Archbishop Filoni: The Catholic Church continues its work, at present, trying to respond to the spiritual needs of the people, and also to offer moral and psychological support.
We continue to offer all those initiatives of humanitarian work, with a certain autonomy and freedom, as before everything had to be authorized. Now there is the autonomy and freedom to organize oneself according to one's daily needs.
Q: Does this situation of chaos that Iraq is going through, damage the pastoral life of the Catholic minority?
Archbishop Filoni: More than damaging it, at times it limits it, because the lack of security obliges people not to leave home after a certain time. For example, they cannot attend traditional celebrations.
Q: What do you foresee for the future of Iraq?
Archbishop Filoni: As men of the Church, as Christians, hope is a virtue. In the traditional language one says "Inshallah," that is, "if God so wills."
Now, the sense of hope exists and continues to exist, and we also believe that a better future can come about gradually.
Contact
Catholic Online
https://www.catholic.org
CA, US
Catholic Online - Publisher, 661 869-1000
info@yourcatholicvoice.org
Keywords
Iraq, Military, Catholic, Soldiers
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol