The persecution of the church in Iraq is one of the great tragedies of the twenty-first century. In this short, yet sweeping account, Cardinal Filoni, the former Papal Nuncio to Iraq, shows us the people and the faith in the land of Abraham and Babylon, a region that has been home to Persians, Parthians, Byzantines, Mongols, Ottomans, and more. This is the compelling and rich history of the Christian communities in a land that was once the frontier between Rome and Persia, for centuries the crossroads of East and West for armies of invaders and merchants, and the cradle of all human civilization. Its unique cultural legacy has, in the past few years, been all but obliterated. The Church in Iraq is both a diligent record and loving testimonial to a community that is struggling desperately to exist. Filoni guides the reader through almost two thousand years of history, telling the story of a people who trace their faith back to the Apostle Thomas. The diversity of peoples and churches is brought deftly into focus through the lens of their interactions with the papacy, but The Church in Iraq does not shy away from discussing the local political, ethnic, and theological tensions that have resulted in centuries of communion and schism. Never losing his focus on the people to whom this book is so clearly dedicated, Cardinal Filoni has produced a personal and engaging history of the relationship between Rome and the Eastern Churches. This book has much to teach its reader about the church in the near East. Perhaps its most brutal lesson is the ease with which such a depth of history and culture can be wiped away in a few short decades.

About the Author
Fernando Cardinal Filoni is Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. He was the former Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan, and afterwards the Philippines. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and a J.C.D. in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University.

Reviews
"The cardinal's work can be likened to a sort of Operation Truth. [He] tells the story of the local Christian communities of Mesopotamia, with historical precision and in a language that is accessible, from the apostolic teaching of Addai and Mari, disciples of St. Thomas the Apostle, to today's suffering." -La Stampa (Italy)



Book Information
ISBN 9780813229652
Author Cardinal Fernando Filoni
Format Paperback
Page Count 277
Imprint The Catholic University of America Press
Publisher The Catholic University of America Press
Weight(grams) 280g