Sunday 20 July 2014, at afternoon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis held the phone to call His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III YOUNAN, Patriarch of Antioch for Syriac Catholic Church. He wanted to reassure him that he was following closely and with anxiety the plight of Christians chased and threatened for their lives in Mousul, Iraq.

    The conversation lasted 9 miniutes, during which the Patriarch Younan thanked the Pope Francis and begged His Holiness to continue intensifying efforts with the powerful of this world, warning them that it is a mass cleansing based on religion which is underway in the province of Nineveh. What a shame for the silence of the so called “civilized world”!

    At the end of His phone call, Pope Fancis gave His apostolic benediction to the whole Christian people at The Orient, assuring them that they are always presents in His prayers for peace and security.