Letter to Patriarch Emmanuel Delly on Christians in Iraq, October 22, 2001

October 21, 2004

His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly
Patriarch of Caldei
P.O. Box 35130
Hay Al-Wahda
Mahallat 904
Rue 8 Imm. 44
12906 Baghdad, Iraq

Your Beatitude:

We are deeply saddened once again by learning of the news of the recent attacks against Christian Churches in Iraq this past Sunday morning. While we are grateful that no one was killed or injured, the Catholic community in the United States continues to pray and share its heart felt sentiments with you as you continue to experience the pain and dislocation this violence is causing the Christians in Iraq.

We are alarmed and greatly concerned especially about the continuing targeted and deliberate violence being perpetrated upon Iraqi Christians by extremist elements. These attacks and other recent ones in August and since then against Christian families and communities are horrific and should not be tolerated. We know that this violence adds to the enormous suffering already inflicted upon the people of Iraq and could jeopardize relations among Christians and Muslims. We have expressed our concerns to Interim Prime Minister Allawi, and to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

As you and other Christian and Muslim leaders work to assure religious freedom and a more democratic Iraq, I wish to assure you of our solidarity and support for the Christian community as well as Iraqis who seek a more peaceful Iraq.

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory
Bishop of Belleville
President