Catholic Masses

  • Search for Mass Times
  • Catholic Faith Articles
    • News Briefs
    • Catholic Church
    • Vatican News
    • Catholic Gift Ideas
  • Online Masses
    • Daily Catholic Mass Online
      • Daily TV Mass from Toronto
      • EWTN Daily Mass
      • CTVN Daily Mass
      • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
      • Daily Mass (In Spanish)
  • Pray with Us
Home Test page Catholic charity gives boost to Iraqi Christian students on eve of papal visit

Catholic charity gives boost to Iraqi Christian students on eve of papal visit

The Catholic University of Erbil in Ankawa, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need.

CNA Staff, Mar 3, 2021 / 05:00 pm (CNA).- A Catholic charity launched a $1.8 million project helping Christian students on the eve of the historic papal visit to Iraq.

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) announced on March 3 that it would donate 1.5 million euros to fund scholarships for 150 students at the Catholic University in Erbil (CUE) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.


Archbishop Bashar Warda, who founded the university in December 2015, welcomed the pontifical foundation’s announcement.

He said: “Without a doubt, the Catholic University of Erbil is a beacon of light and a symbol of hope, especially for the younger generation.”

“Helping the CUE financially by means of scholarships will be an immense support, and this aid will not only benefit a limited number of young people, who are hoping for a better future, but at the same time it will be a powerful gesture of solidarity towards the Christians and all the other minorities and the disadvantaged in the region.”

Most of the 170 students currently enrolled at CUE, the only Catholic university in the country, are refugees or internally displaced from other parts of Iraq, including Baghdad, Basra, Diala, Duhok, Kirkuk, Mosul, Sinjar, and Sulaimaniya.

Warda, the 51-year-old Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Erbil, would like to increase the number of students to 1,000 in the next four years.

Aid to the Church in Need’s International Executive President Thomas Heine-Geldern said: “We believe that this project will support the pope’s message in favor of social cohesion and reconciliation.”

“The university is centered around diversity — with 72% Christians, 10% Muslims and 18% Yazidis. Here young people of different creeds can learn to live together in harmony.”

He continued: “The Catholic University of Erbil is a project of crucial importance for those Christians who wish to stay on in northern Iraq and Kurdistan, since it will help them to remain. The Christians would not think of abandoning their country if they did not feel obliged to do so by forces beyond their control.”

“If young Christians can be given an opportunity to gain a good education, then they will remain. ACN has already done everything possible to help the Christians to stay on in their native land, by investing in the reconstruction of their homes, their churches, and essential infrastructure.”

“Now is the time to initiate this major project, which is a very ambitious one for us, and invest in the young people of the country.”

Pope Francis will become the first pope to visit the country on March 5-8. On his last evening in Iraq, he will offer Mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Mass is expected to be the largest gathering of Iraqi Catholics during his trip. A special identification card issued by the CUE will be required to enter the stadium.

Speaking at his general audience on March 3, Pope Francis said: “The Iraqi people are waiting for us; they awaited St. John Paul II, who was not permitted to go. One cannot disappoint a people for the second time. Let us pray that this journey will be a good one.”

The university in Erbil offers a variety of degree-level subjects, including architecture and civil engineering. Fifty-four percent of the students are female and 46% male.

Archbishop Warda said: “I have always deeply appreciated the work ACN has done for us over many years, and especially after ISIS. To have ACN as the first foundational core donor for the scholarship program is most appropriate and most welcome.”

“We need to bring good news to the people here during the papal visit; to be able to announce the vision to have 1,000 students by 2025, giving us a significant voice and a clear future for our young people and their parents, brings great hope.”


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Catholic World Report

Mar 3, 2021CatholicMasses

Share this post:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on EmailShare on LinkedIn
USCCB: Moderna’s and Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccines ethically preferable to Johnson & Johnson’sThe Equality Act is not a revolution in law but a rejection of law
You Might Also Like
 
Links: Going big on climate change, going bonkers on Trump
 
DC's Catholic U solar project supports Vatican global sustainability initiative

You must be logged in to post a comment. - Log in

CatholicMasses
1 year ago Aid to the Church in Need, Archbishop Bashar Warda, Catholic News, Erbil, Middle East - Africa, News Briefs, Pope Francis trip to Iraq 2021Aid to the Church in Need, Archbishop Bashar Warda, Catholic Church, Catholic News, Erbil, Middle East - Africa, News Briefs, Pope Francis trip to Iraq 202111
Find Mass Schedules Near You

CatholicMasses.org allows you to search for Catholic Churches to find Mass times near you!

This unique feature helps while traveling.  Now along with Mass times, schedules and Catholic news you can also watch daily Catholic Mass online with your friends.

Try our free resource to “find Roman Catholic Churches near me” today!

St Alphonsus Liguori praised the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the best way to Honor God.  Join us as we celebrate Mass daily from various parishes around the world, online and offline, and please visit daily to pray with us as we recite the Rosary, offer daily scripture, readings, devotions and Catholic focused news. We bring you daily Catholic Mass from various parishes around the world and Catholic news.

Today’s Mass
Daily Mass Videos
  • Catholic Chicago
  • CatholicTVNetwork Daily Mass
  • Daily Mass from Toronto Canada
  • ETWN Daily Mass
  • Eucaristia en Vivo – Spanish Daily Mass
  • General Catholic Videos
  • Live video from Lourdes France
  • Masses from the Ascension Priests
  • Misa Hoy (en español)
  • National Shrine
  • News from a Catholic Perspective
  • News from CFN
  • Pope Francis and Vatican News
  • Rosary
  • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
What’s New
  • Sr Mary-Joy: From farm to firefighting to pony centre
  • State Ballot Initiatives on Abortion (Aug. 13)
  • Rejecting the “low-bar Thomism” of revisionist moral theologians
  • Globe Theatre’s new spin on ‘non-binary’ Joan of Arc detracts from her heroism and dignity, Catholics say
  • US Bishops Offer Sympathy and Support After Albuquerque Murders
About

Providing up to date online access to information exclusively about Catholicism.

Visit our site map | Privacy Policy | About Us Page.

Streaming Catholic Mass Online

Watch Catholic Mass Online Today.

Find Churches Nearby
Email-Subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

2019 © Catholic Mass Search - Search Catholic Churches and find Mass times while traveling.
Privacy Policy | About Us Page.
Truemag theme by StrictThemes
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!