Iraqi Christians participate in World Youth Day

Iraqi bishops and religious with the group

More than 200 young Iraqi Christians from all the dioceses of the country participated in World Youth Day (WYD), in Krakow, Poland.

They were accompanied by two Bishops, priests and a number of nuns. The group were very proactive in all the spiritual meetings, retreats and prayer events. They participated in other activities such as cultural shows, during which they introduce their group with folkloric dances and songs, some wore the traditional clothing from Iraq's Christian villages. On July 29, during the Stations of the Cross at Blonia Park in Krakow, members of the Iraqi youth choir sang Our Father in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, in front of the Pope.

Archbishop Bashar Warda, the Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, who accompanied the Iraqi youth said: "We have been preparing for this event over a year. The group were in great spirits."

He added: With the ever-changing political situation in Iraq and the Middle East many of these youth are anxious about their future. When they are amongst almost two million people they felt that they are part of a bigger and worldwide church and hence they are no longer a minority this gave them strength and hope. I feel that their presence in Poland gave hope for them and for the youth of the world.

"For the Iraqis, they saw that there are millions of people who care and pray for them. And for the world youth, they saw that despite their hardship and on-going violent persecution yet the Iraqi youth were full of joy and happiness."

(More pictures coming on ICN's Facebook page)