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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
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And I’m Ruby Jones. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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Iraq is a country that has suffered much lately. Since the US led invasion five years ago, the Iraqi people have lived with serious conflict between several groups. And there are many innocent victims. With war comes many other problems too – lack of security, lack of food and lack of money. However, even in war, the people of Iraq have hope. And the sounds of worship to God can still be heard.
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When most people think about religion in Iraq, they think about Islam. This is because Islam is the major religion in Iraq. However, Iraq is also home to many Christians. Christians are a small minority. But, their history in Iraq is long.
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Today’s Spotlight is on an important Christian leader in Iraq – Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly. Cardinal Delly has achieved great honour in his life. He is a leader and example for many Christians in Iraq. And his example is that of a loving peacemaker.
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The Christian Church has been in Iraq for almost two thousand [2000] years. It is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Today, Christians are only four percent of the Iraqi population – or eight hundred thousand [800,000] people. The largest group of Christians in Iraq is known as the Chaldeans Catholic Church. And Cardinal Delly is the leader of the Chaldean Church in Iraq.
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Delly was born in 1927 in Northern Iraq. He grew up in a Christian community and he decided that he wanted to become a priest. At the age of nineteen, he went to Rome to study. He became a priest in 1952. After that, he remained in Europe for eight more years to finish his studies.
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After his schooling, Delly returned to Iraq. And for almost fifty [50] years, he has continued to serve Iraqi Christians. Delly is one of many Christian leaders in Iraq. However, last year, he received the great honour of becoming a Cardinal in the Catholic Church. The position of Cardinal is the second highest leadership position in the Catholic Church. The highest position is the Pope. There are fewer than two hundred [200] Catholic Cardinals in the world. And this makes being a Cardinal a great honour. However, Delly’s new position is special for another reason too. It was special because Delly is the first Iraqi Cardinal, in the long history of the Iraqi Church.
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Delly has enjoyed much respect and honour as a leader in the Chaldean Church of Iraq. However, it is not just his position that makes him special. It is Delly’s life and work in Iraq that show his true greatness.
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Being a Christian leader in Iraq has not always been easy – especially in the last five years. Before the war, life was safer for Christians. But during these years of war, Iraqis have lived with much violence, death and ruin. Delly explains the terrible things that have come with war. He says,
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“Car bombs, bombs by the side of the road, killings, assassinations. All of these things were not happening in the past. There was stability and security.”
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As a leader, Delly helps the Christians of Iraq live with the effects of war. Many Christians have been targets of violence because of their Christian faith. And many Christians have left Iraq and gone to other countries.
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In January 2008, several churches in Baghdad and Mosul, Iraq were bombed. The bombing happened during a Christian holiday called Epiphany. The churches were destroyed and many people were very sad. Delly was asked to speak about the bombings. And he did. However, he did not speak out in anger. Instead, he spoke about love and forgiveness. Delly said,
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“From my heart I forgive those who did this horrible act. We do not have enemies. If they think we are their enemies, we are not. We love everyone.”
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Delly often prays for the people who do such horrible acts. He believes this is what God calls him to do. Delly is a living example of the Christian teaching to “love your enemies and pray for those who oppress you.”
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Delly is also clear that Christians are not alone in their suffering. He told the International Herald Tribune newspaper,
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“I am not happy when people ask, ‘How is the situation for Christians?’ People who kill do not kill only Christians. They kill Muslims as well – the situation is the same for both.”
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Delly cares for both the suffering Christians and Muslims of Iraq. In fact, he often meets and talks with Muslims, and Muslim leaders. And he encourages other Iraqi Christians to do this as well. He explains the shared history of Muslims and Christians in Iraq,
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“Christians and Muslims have lived together here for fourteen hundred [1400] years. We have much in common; in Iraq, the Christian house is next to the Muslim house.”
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And because of their life together, Delly says,
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“We are brothers... All of us need to work together to improve the Iraqi family.”
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Delly knows that this is not an easy thing to do. Many individuals are afraid to talk to people of other religions. It can be hard to talk to someone who is different. And sometimes the two groups do have problems with each other. However, they can not solve their problems until they discuss them.
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Often when two groups talk, they find more in common than they thought they would. Through this dialogue, the groups can build relationships and work together. And this can help both groups of people.
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Delly teaches Christians in Iraq to dialogue with the Muslims around them. He says,
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“We should do our best to make them understand and to make them feel that we love them and they love us. This is the real dialogue.”
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Loving dialogue can be very wonderful. But it is a process. Delly and the Christians of Iraq still suffer terrible events. In the spring of 2008, another Christian leader – Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho – was kidnapped. After two weeks, Rahho was found dead. It was a terrible loss for Iraqi Christians.
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Delly was very good friends with Rahho. Delly cried as he spoke at Rahho’s funeral. And he spoke about how Rahho was brave, a faithful church leader, and a peacemaker. With tears in his eyes, he urged the Christians of Iraq to also seek peace. It was a difficult time. Many Christians wanted to act with violence after Rahho’s death. But Delly again spoke words of peace. He said,
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“The people of the church should be self–restrained and patient.”
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Delly’s life as a Christian leader in war–torn Iraq is not easy. He has many fears and struggles. However, even in the most difficult times, he chooses to take the path of peace. And this makes him an example to people living in conflict everywhere.
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