Vatican calls on Iraqi government to protect Christians in Mosul

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The New Zealand based TV station, TVNZ, on Wednesday reported that the Vatican called on Iraq’s government to exert more efforts to protect Christians in Mosul. “The Vatican is questioning whether the Iraqi authorities lack the required will to protect Christians,” the station quoted the spokesperson of Pope Benedict XVI. “We are worried because of what we are hearing from Iraq,” he said. “The situation in Mosul is a tragedy, and the victims are Christians, as thousands of them escaped, not because they fear repeated attacks, but because they are subjected to an organized campaign of threats,” he added. “We ask ourselves, do those people receive the required protection from authorities? Or are those authorities unable to protect them? Or is there no required will to protect them?” he noted. MH (P)/SR 1