For Mgr Warduni, young protesters need to feel "our solidarity and closeness". The Pontiff "has at heart" the future of the nation, not only of Christians. Problems must be tacked and resolved "from the ground up".

The appeal of Pope Francis is a source of "great comfort" for all Iraqis, not only Christians, all the more so at a time when Europe and the United States "are doing nothing and waiting to see what happens,” says Mgr Shlemon Audish Warduni, Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad and right-hand man of Chaldean Patriarch Louis Sako.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Bishop Warduni highlighted the Pontiff’s latest appeal in which he expresses “concern” of the “situation” in Iraq. For the prelate, young protesters must feel "our solidarity and closeness" at a time of great tension and change in the country.

The Pope's words come "from someone who wants the good of our country and the whole world, without vested interests and fanaticism.” It is “a very beautiful thing" when the pontiff “says not to harm protesters” because it shows that he "has at heart" the future of the whole nation, where "the vast majority of protesters are Muslims”.

Weeks of anti-government protest have “showed that Christians are also close to their compatriots,” and that everyone "can live together. Indeed, it is precisely in the streets that new friendships develop between Christians and Muslims,” Bishop Warduni said.

"So many young people need reassurance, need to feel good and become a community. Young people wrote ‘God is love’ on the walls,” he noted.