Chargé d'Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan Monsigor Mauro Lalli held a fraternal meeting at the Apostolic Nunciature to welcome His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldeans in Iraq and throughout the world, on Sunday, July 1.

In his greeting addressed to Cardinal Sako, Monsignor Mauro Lalli immediately recalled that the friendship and generosity of the Hashemite Royal Family of Jordan towards the Iraqi people has never ceased over the centuries and was even more evident in the decision taken without hesitation in 2014 by His Majesty King Abdullah II to welcome fraternally to Jordan, give protection, and assistance to Iraqi refugees fleeing their homeland.

Furthermore, Monsignor Lalli stressed, "The relationship between the community of the Chaldean Church and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a long journey that has marked the history of this country". Again he recalled that “Pope Francis, in his recent Apostolic Journey to Iraq, said that the Iraqi Church is a martyr Church in a region of the world where "still open wounds" are seen and witnesses of dramatic pages are heard”. But even serious torments and deep sufferings, the Pope recalls, cannot prevail over words of life, over witnesses of authentic hope".

On his behalf, Cardinal Sako and after thanking once again the King of Jordan and his government for the friendship shown towards Iraq and towards Iraqi Christians, he highlighted that the Kingdom of Jordan is always at the forefront of initiatives aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East and in the world, encouraging inter-religious dialogue and supporting efforts to find a just solution to conflicts.

During the meeting, Sister Maryam Azeez Bloz Moshi was granted the “BENEMERENTI MEDAL”, a high pontifical recognition, granted to Sister Maryam by Pope Francis, in appreciation for her more than ten-year service at the headquarters of the Apostolic Nunciature in Amman.

Msgr. Mauro Lalli then read the reasons that inspired the granting of the honor: "Sister Maryam, Chaldean Religious of Iraqi origin, of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena, for her uninterrupted service at the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan where it was historical memory, bearing the weight of an efficient, humble, discreet, responsible service inspired by an exemplary life of faith and prayer”.

In attendance at the meeting were Archbishop Joseph Jbara, Bishop Jamal Khader, the Carepiscopus Fr. Zaid Habbaba, Parish Priest of the Chaldeans in Jordan, some Chaldean Bishops, the Parish Priest of the Syrian Catholics, Fr. Thaer Abba and the Parish Priest of the Syrian Orthodox Fr. Banjamin Chamoun, Director of Caritas Jordan, Mr. Wael Suleiman, the Ambassador of Iraq to Jordan, H.E. Mr. Haidar AlAthari and some other Diplomats.