The pope doesn’t even come close to explaining why the Christian population of Iraq has declined so sharply. That would be an unwelcome dose of reality for the pontiff, who prefers the fantasy he so crisply enunciated: “Authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.”
“Pope Francis: it is not possible to imagine Iraq without Christians,” National Catholic Register, March 1, 2022:
In a meeting with Iraqi Christian leaders at the Vatican on Monday, Pope Francis recalled his historic trip to Iraq made a year ago this March.
The Pope said that his trip to Iraq on March 5-8, 2021, was an “unforgettable visit” and emphasized the importance of the Christian presence in the Middle Eastern country.
“I wish to say with you once again that it is not possible to imagine Iraq without Christians. This conviction is based not only on a religious foundation, but on social and cultural evidence,” he said on Feb. 28….
Infidel says
Sure it is! When I think of Iraq or Syria, Christians are the last thing that come to mind. For Lebanon, yeah, given that the last census they had puts Christians at a plurality, if not a majority, and depending on how one defines Druze and Alawites
gravenimage says
Infidel, Druze and Alawites are not mainstream Muslims, but neither are they Chrisitans.
Lebanon *used* to be a Christian-majority nation–since the invasion of “Palestianian” Muslims there in the early 1970s and the successive “civil war” there, probably not.
In the 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lebanon, estimates reveal the nation being over 67% Muslim (mostly mainstream Sunnis and Shia, not small sects) and less than a third Christian.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lebanon/#:~:text=Statistics%20Lebanon%2C%20an%20independent%20firm,of%20the%20population%20is%20Christian.
gravenimage says
Pope Francis: ‘It is not possible to imagine Iraq without Christians’
…………….
I guess he doesn’t have much imagination–certainly genocidal Muslims have no problem whatsoever imagining this.
James Lincoln says
gravenimage,
Strangely it makes me think of a few lines from Casablanca {1942). If I am understanding this correctly, Rick – a very complex character – is not naïve regarding the Nazis:
Major Strasser:
Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?
Rick:
It’s not particularly my beloved Paris.
Heinz:
Can you imagine us in London?
Rick:
When you get there, ask me!
gravenimage says
+1
OLD GUY says
He’s worried about Iraq without Christians? He better start worrying about the world without Christians if he keeps supporting the islamic takeover and population surge in non-islamic countries. The death rate for Christians at the hands of Islam is overlooked by this pope. His own priest and clergy are being killed and he still supports the idea that islam is a peaceful loving religion of all faiths. When you won’t stand up and fight evil the devil has you.
sidney penny says
“That would be an unwelcome dose of reality for the pontiff, who prefers the fantasy he so crisply enunciated: “Authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.””
Fantasy yes.
Why Authentic?
Why proper?
Has the Pope read the Koran?