On Friday, Pope Francis began a four-day visit to Iraq, the first-ever papal visit to the country, with a plea for the citizens to protect the area’s centuries-old diversity through interfaith unity and respect.
The visit, which has included an historic meeting with a senior Shiite cleric and a stop at the birthplace of Abraham, has captured the world’s attention, including Bishop Robert Deeley who spoke at length about the journey and its deeper meaning as he celebrated morning Mass on the Third Sunday of Lent at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.
“He is in Iraq, first, of course, as Pope, as head of the church, and his purpose is to visit the dwindling number of Catholic people in that troubled land, one in which there has been much suffering,” the bishop said during his homily. “Yesterday, for example, Francis met with the bishops and priests of Iraq in the Cathedral at Baghdad which witnessed a terrible attack some ten years ago in which 58 people were killed. The message on this trip is the message of the Gospel. Francis, even by his presence, is assuring the people of the gift of their faith, and he is bringing them hope.”
As impactful as his visit has been to many Catholics in the region, Pope Francis’ message is meant for a much wider audience.
“He speaks as well to the leaders and all religious people,” said Bishop Deeley. “He calls for an acknowledgement from religious leaders ‘that we journey together as brothers and sisters in the firm conviction that authentic teachings of religions invite us to remain rooted in the values of peace… mutual understanding, human fraternity and harmonious coexistence.’ In appealing to government leaders, he asks them to appreciate the role of religion in bringing about a harmonious society: ‘Religion, by its very nature, must be at the service of peace and fraternity.’”
Bishop Deeley told the assembly that during his trip, Pope Francis has frequently spoken of Abraham, the great prophet of faith of the Old Testament, who began his journey of faith in what is now the territory of Iraq.
“Abraham was born in the city of Ur of the Chaldeans, a place in Iraq where Francis gathered yesterday in prayer with religious leaders of many faiths,” said the bishop. “There, Francis recalled Abraham, and his conversations with God: ‘God asked Abraham to raise his eyes to heaven and to count its stars (cf. Gen 15:5).’ In those stars, he saw the promise of his descendants; he saw us. Today we, Jews, Christians and Muslims, together with our brothers and sisters of other religions, honor our father Abraham by doing as he did: we look up to heaven and we journey on earth.”
The Word of God helps the faithful to look up to heaven and always reminds us of how we are to live our “journey on earth.”
“As we move deeper into the prayer and reflection of Lent, we should be finding those places in our lives where we discover we are not living as God has called us to do,” said the bishop. “Consequently, in our desire to strengthen our relationship with God, we should, then, be thinking about our need for forgiveness and an experience of God’s mercy which we find in the sacrament of reconciliation. People often ask me how we sin today. I would answer that we sin the same way the Israelites did. God gave them the commandments to call them to a new way of life with him. He calls us to the same way of life.”
In his trip to Iraq, and his prayer at the birthplace of Abraham, Pope Francis reminded us that our faith is ancient, but the relationship that each of us has with God is as new as the morning.
“Use these days of Lent to grow in an appreciation of God’s love and mercy,” said the bishop. “With the grace of God we receive in the sacraments, we will be aided to bring that love and mercy into our dealings with one another.”
The Diocese of Portland website features a special Lent web section (www.portlanddiocese.org/lent-resources) that includes a variety of resources to assist you on your Lenten journey. In the section, you can find Mass times; Holy Week information; Scripture study and other faith-enriching offerings at parishes, both in-person and livestreamed; virtual and in-person retreat and parish mission opportunities; a schedule of Lenten meals; confession opportunities; Stations of the Cross schedules; “Echoing God’s Word in the Catholic Community”; “Saints of Lent”; Lectio Divina in English and Spanish; a “Sharing Our Gifts” section providing outlets for charitable giving; messages from Pope Francis and more.