"We are very happy with this 'festival of lights', and hopefully soon we can go home."
A procession dedicated to the Virgin Mary. We are in Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. It is here that these Christians found refuge from the advancing Islamic State jihadi group (EI).
This Saturday, they celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Strong spiritual time that contrasts with the precariousness of daily life.
A delegation of French Catholics, led by the Archbishop of Lyon, Cardinal Barbarin, came to Erbil to bring these refugees, material support and spiritual comfort, through a message of Pope Francis.
In his , broadcast at the end of the procession, Pope Francis was moved by the plight of Christians in the East, driven out "in suffering." "It's mostly the fault of an extremist and fundamentalist group that these communities, especially Christians and Yazidis, but others also are parties, and all are victims of inhuman violence because of their ethnic identity and religious ", told the pontiff.
"Many thanks to the Pope, he never forgot us," admits a young woman at the end of the ceremony.
The French delegation also distributed thousands of candles, reproducing here, the traditional festival of lights held in Lyon. A gesture of solidarity and a symbol of hope.
"We are very happy with this festival of lights, said one participant, and we hope to go home soon."
"The organizers of the festival of lights in Erbil had described this 'crazy' project, but they won their bet, says special envoy euronews Erbil Raphaële Tavernier. For a few hours, these Christian refugees have managed to put some of their pain aside and found some peace and serenity with as highlight of the day, the pope's message sent to them; it was a gift. These refugees have all said we expect revive this festival of lights but this time next year and home. "
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