The Church at work in Iraq

In the context of the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Iraq, the Holy Father has repeatedly called for peace and has sent a personal representative to that area in the person of Cardinal Fernando Filoni.  In regard to the Church's charitable work, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum notes that since the month of June, various programs aimed at providing assistance to refugees have been enacted.  These programs were initiated by the local Church, in particular through the efforts of Caritas Iraq and have already reached at least 4,000 families.

In addition to the efforts of the local Church, a few other national organizations from the Caritas family have also been involved, under the coordination of Caritas Internationalis.  Other international Catholic organizations have developed their own aid programs.  The Holy Father has contributed through Cor Unum to this ongoing work through a first donation while the President of Cor Unum is in direct contact with the Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans, His Beatitude, Louis Raphael I Sako, as well as to express his spiritual closeness, in order to better understand and appreciate the most important and pressing needs which can be met.

Current humanitarian efforts being carried out by Catholic organizations are being concentrated in three major areas: emergency relief including food and sanitation kits; the education of children; and psychological support.  On-site visits and study are being conducted in order to develop a plan in the very near future by which the Church will be able to render further assistance in close cooperation with the Patriarchate of Babylon for the Chaldeans and with local Caritas offices.