Catholic World News

Vatican UN envoy says military action justified to save Christians in Iraq

August 11, 2014

The Vatican’s representative at UN headquarters in Geneva has said that “military action in this moment is probably necessary” to curb the slaughter of Christians in Iraq.

Archbishop Silvani Tomasi told Vatican Radio that in the long run, the only solution to Iraq’s problems will come with “a dialogue of reconciliation and the acceptance of diversity,” with a regime that ensures equal rights for all. But in the immediate future, the crucial question is the survival of the country’s Christian minority.

The archbishop said that it has been difficult to persuade “the Western powers to take a strong stance in defense of the Christians.” But as reports of atrocities reach the Western world, he said, he hopes for a mobilization of public opinion in favor of humanitarian aid “as well as some political and even effective military protection.”

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