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Pope says 'enough' to violence
16/03/2008 17:27 - (SA)
Vatican City - Pope Benedict made an
emotional appeal for an end to violence and massacres in Iraq,
as he recalled during Palm Sunday services the death of a
kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop.
The half-buried body of Paulos Faraj Rahho, the archbishop
of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul was found on Thursday, two
weeks after he was snatched by gunmen from his car.
"His beautiful testimony of faith to Christ, the Church and
his people that he did not want to abandon despite numerous
threats, pushes me to raise a strong and sorrowful cry: enough
with the massacres, enough with the violence, enough with hatred
in Iraq!" he said.
Speaking to thousands of pilgrims clutching palm fronds and
olive branches - symbols of peace - in St Peter's Square, the
Pope called on Iraqis to "raise their heads" and rebuild their
nation with reconciliation, forgiveness and justice.
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