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The cardinal is in Rome to attend the meeting of the cardinals with the Pope, and has followed the violence of recent days with “deep concern.” During today’s audience, the pontiff also called for “dialogue and brotherhood” for the country and its people. President Saleh asks to return to the polls.
Rome () – The only way to get out of a situation of political stalemate and institutional paralysis is to return the floor to the people and “call for new elections”, as the Iraqi president himself has stressed in these hours. contacted by at the end of the two days of meetings and work with Pope Francis, with the participation in the first mass of his new brother cardinals celebrated yesterday, the Patriarch of Baghdad Card. Louis Raphael Sako, did not hide his “deep concern” for the violence that bloodies Iraq.
This morning, the Pontiff also referred to the Arab country during the Wednesday audience. He said that he was following “with concern the violent events that have occurred in Baghdad in recent days: we ask God to grant peace to the Iraqi people.” “Last year – the Pope continued, recalling his apostolic trip in March 2021 – I had the joy of visiting Baghdad and I felt first-hand the great desire for normalcy and peaceful coexistence among the different religious communities that make it up. Dialogue and fraternity,” he concluded, “are the main way to face the current difficulties and achieve this goal.
The balance of the clashes between supporters of the Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr and the Security Forces (backed by pro-Iranian movements) is at least 30 dead and almost 800 wounded. For hours it was feared that the situation could degenerate into an all-out civil war. This was prevented thanks to a call by al-Sadr himself, who asked the demonstrators to withdraw to avoid further “Iraqi bloodshed”.
Protesters and supporters of the Shiite leader, a figure who has gained increasing power and support in recent years, called for the dissolution of parliament and the holding of new elections. A few hours later, Iraqi President Barham Saleh intervened, who sees in the polls the only way to resolve the crisis that has paralyzed the nation for almost a year. “The call for new early elections in accordance with the national consensus,” stressed the head of state, “is a way out of the crisis” and is a factor of “political and social stability” that responds to the “aspirations of the people Iraqi”. Iraq’s interim prime minister, the Sunni Mustafa al-Kadhimi, wanted to thank al-Sadr for his call for calm and moderation.
Commenting on the violence, Patriarch Sako confirmed that “people were very afraid”, especially of a new drift out of control. “The Shia leader did well to condemn the violence and ask his people to leave the Green Zone [de Bagdad]”, added the cardinal. “We must all make sacrifices and sacrifices for Iraq and its people; all together we must find a peaceful solution for the country”.
For the Chaldean primate, the caliber of the clashes was a “surprise” for al-Sadr himself. The presence of “infiltrators in the demonstrations” who may have caused clashes to lead to violence should not be ruled out. In addition, the Shiite leader “has always spoken of peaceful demonstrations” and in the face of escalation has called for a step back. And for this”, emphasizes Patriarch Sako, “I thank him, because he has made a declaration and a brave gesture”. We too, as a Church, are in favor of dialogue, peace and progress, which are the only way out of the crisis, because the alternative, terrible, is civil war”. “I have heard President Saleh’s statement,” said Card. Sako – and I agree with him: the only way is the vote.”
