The visit of European Chaldean Catholic communities by the Procurator of the Chaldean Church at the Holy See, and Apostolic Visitator in Europe, Msgr. Philip Najim, is starting on September 16th. The news was spread by Baghdadhope site, supplying also details of the journey, which will include Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. At the first stage, in Essen and Mönchengladbach, the new priest, Father Sami Al-Rais (kidnapped on December 4th, 2006, and then released after six days, editor’s note), is going to be introduced to the two Chaldean communities: 450 families. "I will meet the families and the communities of believers said Father Najim with the aims of listening to their needs and letting them feel the unifying and consoling presence of the Church. Lots of families, which in the past suffered wars and embargoes, are now integrated in the social tissue of the country". However, the 2003 war and today’s episodes of violence "accelerated the escape" of many more families. "One cannot deny added the procurator that a real persecution of the Christians in going on in Iraq. It is clear that reality is hard to face for those people who imagined a different future, and who found themselves in the uncomfortable shoes of refugees. For this reason, they need material help and moral consolation".
