March 2, 2008
Soon after three of his guards were killed, Archbishop Faraj Rahho of Iraq was kidnapped by gunmen last Friday after celebrating mass. Pope Benedict XVI released a statement soon thereafter, asking everyone to pray for Monsignor Rahho's quick release and safety, and for the souls of the three aides who were killed. The pope also asked that we pray for "...reason and humanity [to] prevail among the authors of the kidnapping."
Jesus once said "Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9). The first step towards achieving peace is to ask God to help us attain it. Thus, in addition to the above statements by the Pope, let us also pray that turmoil in the Middle East may soon end.
Update (
Mar. 13, 2008): I am sad to inform you that Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho has died today. His body has been recovered by Iraqi church officials. The cause of death is still unknown (it is quite possible that the archbishop died of natural causes). (SOURCE:
www.catholicnews.com).
Let us all pray for the archbishop's dearly departed soul, and let us continue to pray for the cessation of violence in Iraq.
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Image courtesy of www.kaldu.org.)
Author: Frolin S. Ocariza, Jr.
