Scottish Catholic Observer

In a letter written to Archbishop Maroun Lahham, Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, SB Fouwad Toual the Holy Father (above) thanks the people of Jordan for taking in so many Christian refugees.

The letter, which comes after the first anniversary of the arrival of Iraqi refugees in Jordan in 2014, thanks the Jordanian people and government for welcoming refugees fleeing Mosul and Nineveh, whilst also highlighting the need for greater global awareness of Christian oppression at the hands of ‘fanaticism and intolerance’.

“Many times I have wanted to give voice to the atrocious, inhumane and inexplicable persecution of those who in many parts of the world—and especially among Christians—are victims of fanaticism and intolerance, often under the eyes and silence of all,” the Pope writes. “They are the martyrs of today, humiliated and discriminated against because of their fidelity to the Gospel.”

Pope Francis also expressed his belief that the world should ‘be ever more attentive, sensitive and engaged regarding the persecution directed against Christians and, more generally, against religious minorities.’

“I renew the hope that the international community not remain silent and inert in front of these intolerable crimes, which constitute an alarming decline of the most essential human rights and impede the richness of cohabitation among peoples, cultures and faiths,” he said.