Following the kidnapping and death of Archbishop Rahho, the Chairman of the International Affairs Department, Bishop Crispian Hollis, accompanied by Bishop William Kenney CP have recently returned from a solidarity visit to Iraq. Bishops’ Hollis and Kenney went to Erbil, Kirkuk, and Sulemaniyah at the invitation of the Chaldean bishops to share in the experiences of the people, priests and religious of Northern Iraq. The bishops also spent time at the Chaldean Seminary of St Peter in Ainkawa, a Christian town near Erbil (see photo of the staff and students) meeting with seminarians.

Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk, one of the hosts said: “Many people have left their homes, their property and their jobs and they are losing their patience so this visit was very helpful to encourage us to continue with courage and hope for a better future.”