In a press release, Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), expressed “profound shock and sorrow” on behalf of the U.S. bishops following the death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho at the hands of his kidnappers earlier today.
The body of Archbishop Rahho, who was kidnapped last month as he was leaving a church in Mosul, Iraq, was discovered today at the northern edge of the city, according to news reports.
Archbishop Rahho’s two companions and driver were killed during the February attack.
In a letter to the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly, Cardinal George called today’s killing “callous” and one which “demonstrates the particularly harsh realities faced by Christians in Iraq and the lack of security faced by all Iraqis.”
Cardinal George offered prayers of consolation to the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch and for the Chaldean Church in Iraq and assured him that the U.S. bishops stood in solidarity with him during this troubling time.
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