In response to anguished letter, Pope calls Iraqi priest
September 01, 2014
Pope Francis has telephoned an Iraqi priest who is ministering in a refugee camp, according to a Vatican Radio report.
“The situation of your sheep is miserable,” Father Behnam Benoka, until recently a seminary vice-rector near Mosul, said in his letter. “They die and they are hungry. Your little ones are scared and cannot do it anymore. We, priests, religious, are few and fear not being able to meet the physical and mental needs of your and our children.”
“Your Holiness, I'm afraid of losing your children, especially infants who every day struggle and weaken more,” he continued. “I'm afraid that death will snatch some away. Send us your blessing so that we may have the strength to go on, and maybe we can still resist.”
In response to the letter, the Pope called Father Benoka and “reiterated his full support and closeness to the persecuted Christians, promising that he will continue to do his best to bring relief to their suffering,” Vatican Radio reported. The Pope concluded “by imparting his apostolic blessing and asking the Lord to grant them the gift of perseverance in the faith.”
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