With Chaldean Catholics, Pope prays for peace in Syria, Iraq

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Pope Francis releases a dove after a meeting with Chaldean Catholics at the Church of St. Simon the Tanner in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sept. 30.CNS photo/Paul Haring

BY CINDY WOODEN, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
September 30, 2016

TBILISI, Georgia – At a brief prayer service with Chaldean Catholics in Georgia, Pope Francis pleaded with God to grant peace to persecuted Christians and the victims of war, especially in Syria and Iraq.

With 300 people squeezed into the small Chaldean Church of St. Simon the Tanner Sept. 30, Pope Francis joined representatives of the Chaldean community who have lived in Georgia for generations, but also most of the Chaldean church's bishops, who came from Iraq, Syria and throughout the Middle East to pray with the pope.

Chaldean bishops and donors from the United States also were present; they provided much of the money to build the Church of St. Simon, which was consecrated in 2009.

Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad led the formal prayers, which were chanted in Aramaic.

http://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/23221-with-chaldean-catholics-pope-prays-for-peace-in-syria-iraq