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Pope condemns violence against Christians in Iraq

AFP, Vatican City, Feb 28, 2010 – Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday condemned recent violence against Christians in Iraq and asked Iraqi authorities to protect ’the most vulnerable religious minorities.’
’With great sadness I have learned the tragic news of the recent killings of some Christians in the city of Mosul,’ said the pope after his traditional Angelus blessing, in front of many Iraqis holding their national flag in St. Peter’s Square.
’In the delicate political phase that Iraq is going through, I appeal to civil authorities to make every effort to bring security to the population, in particular to the most vulnerable religious minorities,’ he said.
An Assyrian Christian and his two sons were murdered at their Mosul home on Tuesday, raising the number of Christians killed since mid-February to eight.
Between 15,000 and 20,000 Christians live in Mosul, where the shrinking minority has accused authorities of inaction, noting that the killers have escaped each time.
In a telegram to the head of the Eastern Orthodox church sent on Sunday, the pope also expressed confidence that the two churches could move towards a full communion.
In a birthday telegram to the Archbishop of Constantinople Bartholomew I, the pope expressed his ’confidence that the Spirit of God will continue to enlighten and guide our path towards the full communion willed by Christ for all his disciples.’

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