INA–Baghdad
Babylon Movement leader Rayan al-Kaldani affirmed on Thursday that protecting the Christian presence is a shared moral, national, and humanitarian responsibility.
The media office of the Babylon Movement stated in a press release received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “the leader of the Babylon Movement, Rayan al-Kaldani, accompanied by a delegation of movement leaders, visited His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church in the world, in a meeting that held profound spiritual and national significance. It embodied the deep bonds uniting the people of the Levant and their shared commitment to protecting religious and cultural diversity and preserving the authentic Christian presence in the region.”
“The meeting discussed the situation of Christians in Iraq and the region, and ways to strengthen their national presence and support their continued presence in their historical homeland. It also emphasized the importance of consolidating stability and supporting the state and its institutions in a manner that preserves human dignity and the right to live in freedom and security,” the statement added.
"The Chaldean Patriarch affirmed that the Levant cannot lose its Christian spirit, which has contributed throughout the centuries to building its civilization and culture and establishing its message of moderation, while he noted that protecting the Christian presence in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon is a shared moral, national, and humanitarian responsibility," according to the statement.
"His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Ignatius Joseph III Younan, for his part, stressed the importance of adhering to the message of love, faith, and patience, and working towards a future of peace and understanding among all the region's communities," the statement continued.
The statement added that the Chaldean Patriarch expressed his deep appreciation for the spiritual and national role played by the Syriac Catholic Church in consolidating the values of moderation and coexistence, emphasizing that the current stage requires a unifying discourse that protects humanity from hatred and division and strengthens the prospects for peace and stability.
"Both sides affirmed the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between religious and national leaders, which contributes to protecting the historical diversity of the Levant and promoting a culture of coexistence and peace in the region," the statement concluded.
