Al-Maliki pledges to support Iraqi cardinal
Oct 28, 2007
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki pledged Saturday to support Reverend Emanuel III, archbishop of Iraqi Church who was remunerated to Cardinal title by the Vatican.
BAGHDAD, Oct 27 (KUNA) -- The title is the highest for a Christian clergyman in Iraq's history.
Al-Maliki made the pledge during his meeting with Reverend Emanuel III at his office. He congratulated Reverend Emanuel III on the new title, saying that the latter's honoring by the Holy See was an honor for all Iraqis.
"The Iraqi government will offer all possible support to your efforts to combat sectarianism and intolerance," the prime minister vowed.
"It will also make its utmost to keep the Iraqi Christians at homeland and encourage those who migrated to come back," he added.
For his part, Reverend Emanuel III thanked Al-Maliki and prayed for God to bless his government and back its efforts in stabilizing the situations and spread the rule of law across Iraq.
He vowed to use his new title for the services of the homeland.
Reverend Emanuel III is scheduled to fly to Rome soon to receive the new title officially from Pope Benedict XVI.
Al-Maliki pledges to support Iraqi cardinal