Pope Leo XIV has exhorted young Christians in Iraq to remain steadfast in the faith and to become “the light of Christ” in a country that continues to suffer the consequences of decades of war, violence and instability. The message was addressed to the participants of the Ankawa Youth Meeting, which is being held from 8 to 11 July in the Archeparchy of Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan.
According to data collected by ACI MENA and the Chaldean Patriarchate of Baghdad, Iraq’s Christian population has fallen from around 1.5 million faithful before the 2003 war to nearly half a million today. Sectarian violence, terrorist attacks and persecution by Islamist groups have triggered mass emigration, mainly to the United States and Australia.
“Do not be afraid”
In his video message, released by the Holy See on 8 July, Leo XIV reminded the young people that the Church counts on them to proclaim the Gospel and help build the future.
“Young people are not only the future of the Church, but also its present,” the Pope stated, encouraging them to grow in friendship with Christ and with one another.
Aware of the difficulties Iraq is facing, the Pontiff acknowledged that Christian witness is especially demanding in a context marked by war and instability.
“It is not always easy to be a light in the world. At this moment you are called to radiate that light in a situation that has often been marked by war and instability.”
He then offered them a message of closeness: “Do not be afraid. I am with you; the Church is with you. Trust in Jesus, listen to Him in prayer and let Him guide you.”
Faith, sacraments and hope
Using the image of light as the axis of his reflection, Leo XIV explained that the Christian mission rests on three pillars: faith, charity and hope.
First, he stressed that faith allows us to view reality with God’s eyes and encouraged the young people to bear witness to Christ with their own lives.
He then highlighted the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord through prayer and the sacraments.
“It is so important to dedicate time each day to prayer and to draw near to God through the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist,” he said.
Finally, he invited the participants to become sowers of reconciliation and hope.
“Rooted in charity, you are called in a special way to be builders of peace, to unite those around you and to instill the hope of a future marked by lasting peace.”
“Never doubt God’s goodness”
Concluding his message, the Pope encouraged the young Iraqis to place full trust in divine providence, recalling the words of the prophet Jeremiah about the future of hope that God prepares for His people.
“Never doubt the goodness of God and do not be afraid of the plan the Lord has for each of your lives,” he said.
After entrusting the participants to the protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, Leo XIV imparted his apostolic blessing, urging them to continue being witnesses of the Gospel in a region where the Christian presence continues to face significant challenges.
Full text of Pope Leo XIV’s message:
Dear young people:
It is a joy for me to greet all of you who are taking part in the Ankawa Youth Meeting, in the Archeparchy of Erbil. You have come from different parts of Iraq to gather in an atmosphere of faith and communion, and I pray that this may be an opportunity for all of you to grow in friendship with Jesus and with one another. Youth is a stage of life marked by the desire to do great things and to leave a mark on the world. In this regard, I am pleased to know that the theme chosen for this year’s meeting is mission. The Church has an essential mission: to serve the world by sharing the light of Christ (cf. Jn 8,12) and leading men and women to communion with God. You share in this mission, and I count on you to help shape the Church—and the world—in the years to come. As I have said on other occasions, young people are not only the future of the Church, but also its present.
It is not always easy to be a light in the world (cf. Mt 5,13). In fact, at the present moment you are called to radiate that light in a reality that has often been marked by war and instability. The Lord has placed great trust in you by entrusting you with this mission, and I too place deep trust in each one of you. You must be the light of Christ amid a darkness that at times can seem overwhelming. Do not be afraid! And do not think you are alone in this task. I am with you; the Church is with you. Place your trust in Jesus; listen to Him in prayer and through the guidance of those who accompany you, and let Him lead you.
Light is essential to life in many ways, and I would like to mention three that can help guide your mission. First, light is necessary for seeing, which reminds us of the gift of faith. Faith in God is not a mechanism for coping with life’s difficulties. Rather, it is the recognition of reality and living in the truth, learning to look at the world, others and ourselves as God looks at them. It requires walking the path of life with heart and gaze fixed on our true homeland (cf. Heb 11,14), knowing that God is with us even when we cannot see Him. The way you live must also bear witness to your faith, so that others may discover in you the truth and meaning they themselves seek and thus come to share in that same light.
The second aspect of light is that it provides warmth, which symbolizes love. To be a light for the world, we must first share in the very light and life of Christ. To take part in the mission, we must first discover a living relationship with God. We must know Him. By opening ourselves to God’s transforming love, we receive the grace needed to follow Jesus and embrace the life to which He calls us. That is why it is so important to dedicate time each day to prayer and to draw near to God through the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist. Root your heart in the solid foundation of the love God has for you; discover the heart of Christ and do not be afraid to build your life upon Him (cf. 1 Jn 4,16). In doing so, you will not only find the fulfillment you long for, but you will also be able to share with those around you the warmth of God’s love and the reconciling power of His grace.
Finally, light is necessary for growth and new life, and it is an image of hope. Rooted in charity, you are called in a special way to be builders of peace, to unite those around you and to instill in others the hope of a future marked by lasting peace. You may not be able to control your situation or the challenges you will face, but you can always choose to let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts (cf. Col 3,15). The virtue of hope impels us to look toward heaven. This does not mean forgetting the world, but having the confidence to share with it the peace and life that come from Christ, whose light illuminates the new Jerusalem (cf. Rev 21,23).
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. The prophet Jeremiah also had to face difficult moments, and he bears witness that the Lord’s plans are “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29,11). Entrusting each one of you to the maternal protection and guidance of Mary, Mother of the Church, I pray that during these days of spiritual renewal you may discover in her the true example of a life completely given to the grace of God.
And may Almighty God bless all of you, the ✠ Father, and the ✠ Son, and the ✠ Holy Spirit. Amen.