Reforming the constitution and the legal system of the country, reinforcing the primary objective of "respect for life", eliminating divisions and abuses that create "second-class citizens"; change the school curriculum "updating religion programs" respecting "the needs of modern times"; guaranteeing "job opportunities for young people". These are the points outlined by the Chaldean patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, in his speech at the 55th edition of the Munich Security Conference, in Germany, from February 15 to 17.

The annual conference in the German city is the most important event in the world in terms of security and international policies. The event is attended by heads of state and government, prominent politicians, international organizations and representatives of the Armed Forces, civil society, business and the media.

The Chaldean primate intervened at the invitation of President Msc Wolfgang Ischinger, a retired German diplomat formerly ambassador to Washington. In his speech, Cardinal Sako recalled that the essence of the religious "message" is generally aimed at coexistence and cooperation, peace and security, freedom and dignity. However, for over a century Christians in the Middle East have experienced a climate of "endless violence".

From the Ottoman Empire to the First World War, through the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 that caused violence, confusion and triggered a spiral of terror, there are many causes that explain the persecution. In particular, the American intervention has caused a situation of "chaos", the result of the "dissolution of the state" and prepared the ground for the advent of the ISIS.

The drama of Christians is revealed in numbers: 1,225 faithful killed in various incidents of violence in Iraq; one million left the country; 120,000 displaced from Mosul and the Nineveh plain, who had to live for more than three years in refugee camps in conditions of extreme need (without the central government in Baghdad ever intervening to provide for their needs); 58 churches and many mosques were bombed or destroyed; about 23,000 Christian, Yazidi and Sabei properties have been expropriated by the local "mafia".

In his address, sent to AsiaNews, the cardinal warned that this spiral of hatred and extremism must be eliminated. Then, he called for the promotion of "humanitarian and national participation" in the development of the country "in a spirit of fraternity", which includes "support for the patrimony of Christians".

Cardinal Sako emphasized that a "rapid stabilization" of the plain of Nineveh is "essential", now that it is free from ISIS militias, but threatened by the Shiite forces that have recently targeted Christians. "The international community, he concluded, must assist the displaced and develop an effective long-term strategy" to guarantee "peace and prosperity" to a nation that "is supposed to be rich in resources".