'I will be a soldier!'

Archbishop Bashar Warda of Iraq
(second from left) helps launch
Persecuted and Forgotten?

Archbishop Bashar Warda is on the last leg of his visit to the UK as Aid to the Church in Need's guest. In Scotland he helped to launch Persecuted and Forgotten? our latest report on Christian persecution - to a blaze of media interest - followed by a flying visit to Ireland where he was welcomed by our Irish office.

Today he is back in the country for a full itinerary including a meeting at the Foreign Office, a reception, a press conference and rounding off the day by concelebrating 5.30pm Mass at Westminster Cathedral with Archbishop Vincent Nichols followed by talks in Westminster Cathedral Hall. More about this event


Before he came, there was concern that the schedule would be too taxing for him after such a long flight from home, but Bishop Warda was stoic. He said that this was an important opportunity to raise the subject of Christian persecution and for him to give witness to the suffering of the Christian community in Iraq. He said: "I will be a soldier for the week!"  So today, he is soldiering on to get the voice of the persecuted Church heard.

Christianity in Iraq: The Chilling Reality

Last night over dinner, the conversation fell to the subject of kidnapping. Sitting next to Archbishop Warda, only just arrived from Iraq, it felt slightly unreal and very unsettling to hear him talk about the plans he and fellow Redemptorists have made in the event of capture, given that a number of brother priests and bishops have fallen victim and paid the ultimate price.

Archbishop Warda is clear that he wouldn't want a ransom demand to be paid. For him, the knowledge that the money feeds back into the purchase of weapons and the continuing cycle of violence and killings is unacceptable.


This morning, along with Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop Warda has given a wide range of interviews to TV, press and radio to launch Persecuted and Forgotten? - Aid to the Church in Need's new report on the oppression of Christians for their faith. You can get your copy of the report here

Archbishop Warda to visit Aid to the Church in Need

Archbishop Bashar Warda
of Erbil, Iraq

We're only a few days away from the visit of Archbishop Bashar Warda, who is coming over from Erbil in Iraq to help us launch our important new publication, Persecuted and Forgotten?

The Archbishop will be taking part in events at Carfin Grotto in Motherwell, Dundalk in Ireland and Westminster Cathedral in London - if you would like to come along we would be delighted to see you! Just follow the links to find out more.

The events should be really eye-opening, with Archbishop Warda telling us about the persecution Christians in Iraq suffer for their faith. And he'll be telling some of the stories of hope that you are helping us to bring to the faitful there. You can watch our short film about Iraq to find out more.