Iraqi Christian youth voice their views on the Church and their future

Iraqi Christian youth gather at the Ankawa Youth Meeting in 2022. / Credits: Aid to the Church in Need

ACI MENA, Dec 5, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

In a survey conducted between 2022 and 2024, ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, explored the views of young Iraqi Christians — mostly Catholics — across various towns, cities, and church communities. The findings show that half of respondents feel the Church meets their spiritual needs and that a majority of them want to leave the country.

The poll targeted young women and men between the ages of 18 and 40, with 70% of them falling in the 18- to 25-year-old category. The results showed that 66.7% of participants feel they receive adequate support from the Church while 9.1% do not and 24.2% are uncertain.

Many participants said the Church provides opportunities for active roles throughout its institutions and activities. When asked to evaluate their engagement in Church activities on a scale of 1 to 5, approximately 77% chose a score between 3 and 5, while only 23% gave a lower score. Notably, about 75% of survey participants reported being active in the Church’s preparations for the synodal process, regardless of their varying perspectives.

Regarding faith aspirations, nearly half of Catholic participants (about 50%) felt that the local Catholic Church meets their spiritual needs, at a rate of 80% to 100%. Roughly one-third rated it on a scale of 60% to 80%, while the remaining group believed the Church meets their aspirations only moderately or poorly.

Youth and migration

The survey highlighted the issue of migration, unveiling that a large proportion of young Iraqi Christians are inclined to leave the country in search of a new life abroad. While 47% of respondents opposed the idea of migration, 13% remained indecisive, and 40% openly expressed their desire to emigrate. Those who are hesitant or determined to leave the country collectively comprise approximately 53% of the total participants.

Economic challenges and political obstacles were cited as the primary drivers for the desire to emigrate. Other reasons included religious concerns, family circumstances, and educational opportunities.

Despite the concerning numbers of youth looking to leave, an almost equal percentage remains firmly rooted in their homeland. More than 68% of participants denied experiencing religious discrimination, while 31.3% said they had faced it.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.