09/21/2021 Iraq (International Christian Concern) – The Mosul community celebrated the reopening of the Archbishop See at the beginning of September after the destruction of the Islamic State left the city and the Christian community decimated. Archbishop Najib Mikhael Moussa led the inauguration reopening ceremony, which was attended by local Christians and Muslims alike, in addition to tribal and government leaders and military members.

Mosul, the stronghold of the Islamic State in Iraq, was Archbishop Moussa’s home when the Islamic State took over. He fled to the Nineveh Plain, then later on to Iraqi Kurdistan. Around 60 families have returned to Mosul with 200 more still waiting in the Nineveh Plains, according to AsiaNews. The Christian leader commented that the focus Is not on rebuilding the city saying, “so far only 10 percent has been done. But to ensure that Christians return, it is necessary to focus on housing and jobs, in addition to security.”

The Mosul See was encouraged by the unity displayed between the local Christians and Muslims in the celebration of the church’s return and was an echo of Pope Francis’ comments in March during his Iraq visit. Archbishop Moussa seeks to contribute to this continued unity and promoting the curbing of radicalism commenting, “educating children and young people is essential, but it is equally important to monitor prayers and sermons in mosques. We have had it with fanatics.”

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