Pope Francis Praises Iraqi Christians for Perseverance under Persecution

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Dec 08, 2014

Pope Francis Praises Iraqi Christians for Perseverance under Persecution

Pope Francis spoke about Iraqi Christians in a video message that was shown in Erbil on Saturday. The Pope praised the Christians for their perseverance in the face of persecution and called for an international movement to end the conflict with ISIS. 

In the message, Pope Francis said, “Today I wish to draw closer those of you who tolerate this suffering, and to be close to you ... And I think of St Therese of the Baby Jesus, who said that she and the Church were like a rod: when the wind rises and the storm comes, the rod bends but it does not break. At the moment, you are like this rod: you bend painfully, but you have the strength to carry forth your faith, which is a testimony to us. You are God's rod today! The rods that bend under this ferocious wind, but then rise up again."

He also called compared Iraqi Christians to a “rod that bends but does not break.” 

Publication date: December 8, 2014



Pope Francis Praises Iraqi Christians for Perseverance under Persecution