King Charles III attended a service in a Catholic church in London on Thursday in support of persecuted Christians in the Middle East. Source: Crux.
The service in the Church of The Immaculate Conception reflected on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq by ISIS.
It comes just after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad’s by rebel forces associated with Islamist groups.
“This special service at Farm Street Church [the common name of the church] reminds us of our shared commitment to walking with those in need and igniting hope in the face of challenges,” Fr Peter Gallagher, the provincial of the Jesuits in Britain, said.
“We are grateful for the King’s presence and the opportunity to stand together in faith and solidarity, recognising the resilience of many Christian communities and God’s guiding presence in our lives,” Fr Gallagher said.
Charles is a longtime supporter of Christians in the Middle East and has often drawn attention to their suffering.
While still the Prince of Wales, he spoke at a historic service at Westminster Abbey in 2018 to celebrate the contribution of Christians in the Middle East.
The event at Farm Street Church was co-hosted by Aid to the Church in Need UK.
“Throughout their long history dating back to the 1st century, the Christians of Iraq have been no strangers to suffering,” Caroline Hull, national director at ACN (UK) said.
“But little could prepare them for the terrors that would be inflicted both on them and so many other communities in recent years,” Dr Hull said.
“Since his time as Prince of Wales, the King has shown profound and unstinting compassion, going out of his way to hear the personal stories of the afflicted faithful,” she said.
“The King’s constant concern has been a huge source of encouragement for us at ACN.”
ACN has supported the rebuilding of churches and homes in the Christian town of Qaraqosh and other settlements in the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, enabling thousands of families to return to their homeland.
FULL STORY
King Charles III attends event at Catholic Church remembering Christians in Middle East (By Charles Collins, Crux)
