Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio per l’uccisione, avvenuta ieri a Mossul (Iraq), del sacerdote cattolico Padre Ragheed Ganni, e di tre suoi aiutanti diaconi, inviato dal Santo Padre Benedetto XVI al Vescovo di Mossul dei Caldei, S.E. Mons. Paul Faraj Rahho, tramite il Segretario di Stato, Card. Tarcisio Bertone:

THE MOST REVEREND PAUL FARAJ RAHHO
BISHOP OF MOSSUL OF THE CHALDEANS

THE HOLY FATHER WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE SENSELESS KILLING OF FATHER RAGHEED AZIZ GANNI AND SUBDEACONS BASMAN YOUSEF DAOUD, GHASAN BIDAWID AND WADID HANNA, AND HE ASKS YOU KINDLY TO CONVEY TO THEIR FAMILIES HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES. HE WILLINGLY JOINS THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN MOSSUL IN COMMENDING THEIR SOULS TO THE INFINITE MERCY OF GOD OUR LOVING FATHER AND IN GIVING THANKS FOR THEIR SELFLESS WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL. AT THE SAME TIME HE PRAYS THAT THEIR COSTLY SACRIFICE WILL INSPIRE IN THE HEARTS OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL A RENEWED RESOLVE TO REJECT THE WAYS OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE, TO CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD (ROM 12:21) AND TO COOPERATE IN HASTENING THE DAWN OF RECONCILIATION, JUSTICE AND PEACE IN IRAQ. TO THE FAMILIES AND TO ALL WHO MOURN THEIR DEAD IN FAITH AND IN THE HOPE WHICH DRAWS ITS CERTAINTY FROM THE RESURRECTION HIS HOLINESS CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGHT IN THE LORD.

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE
SECRETARY OF STATE

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