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Pope Leo XIV to Iraqi Christians: Be Christ’s light in challenging times

July 8, 2026 · 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV has urged Iraqi Christians to be the light of Christ amid worsening persecution and insecurity.

In a video message published by the Vatican on July 8 for the Ankawa Youth Meeting in Ankawa, Iraq, the pope greeted the young Christians present and encouraged them to trust in God during these challenging times for the country.

“Dear young people, never doubt the goodness of God, and do not be afraid of the plan the Lord has for each of your lives,” Leo said in the video message. “The prophet Jeremiah also had to face difficult moments, and he bears witness that the Lord’s plans are ‘for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope’ (Jer 29:11).”

Prolonged Christian persecution and emigration from Iraq Iraq continues to experience sectarian violence and terrorist attacks, forcing waves of Christians to emigrate. As reported by ACI MENA , the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate of Baghdad, two-thirds of Christians have left the country, with most fleeing to the United States and Australia.

The report also states that since the Iraq War in 2003, the Christian population has declined from 1.5 million to…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Anna Moore

That bit about two-thirds of the Christians leaving Iraq really hits home — my own parish has a few families from there who settled in Melbourne after 2003. The pope quoting Jeremiah 29:11 is spot on for those young people in Ankawa; it’s the same verse our choir sang at last year’s prayer night for persecuted believers.

Κατερίνα Λαμπροπούλου

The phrase from Jeremiah 29:11 that the Pope mentioned is very powerful, I have read it many times in difficult times. Here in Larissa we also have a family of Iraqi Christians who came after 2003, and they say exactly the same thing about insecurity and immigration. Let us pray that a few young people will remain there and become light as he told them.

Γιώργος Δημητρίου

I agree, Katerina, the phrase from Jeremiah is one of those that stick. Here in Patras I know an accountant from Iraq who left in 2008 and he was telling me how difficult it was to leave his church in Mosul. Let's pray that the young people there find the strength to stay, as you say.

Mary Adams

That Jeremiah 29:11 quote the pope used is the same one our priest brought up last Lent when a family from Mosul visited our parish. Two-thirds gone since 2003 is sobering. I wonder how those kids in Ankawa are holding up this summer with everything still shaky over there.

Елена Семёнова

In Novosibirsk we also have several Iraqi Christians from Mosul who arrived after 2003. When they talk about how they left their churches, it becomes very difficult. It’s good that the Pope reminded us specifically about Jeremiah 29:11 - these words really help not to despair.

Νίκος Μιχαηλίδης

The quote from Jeremiah 29:11 that the Pope said is one you keep with you. Here in Nicosia we have a family from Iraq who came after 2003 and they were telling me how difficult it was to leave their church in Mosul. Let us pray that the young people in Ankava find the strength to stay.

Ελένη Νικολαΐδου

Jeremiah's phrase really helps a lot, Katerina, I have said it too when my son went to work abroad. Here in Nicosia we have a woman from Erbil who was telling me how much she misses her home in Iraq, but is afraid to go back. Really, how are the children of the family doing in Larissa?