Chaldean bishop voices hope for peace under new U.S. administration

President Donald J. Trump is joined by legislators and Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil-Kurdistan, Iraq, left, as he signs H.R. 390, the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018 on Dec. 11, 2018, in the Oval Office of the White House. / Credit: Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead; Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

ACI MENA, Nov 11, 2024 / 11:00 am (CNA).

As a leading voice for Middle Eastern Christians, Bishop Bashar Matti Warda, head of the Chaldean Eparchy of Erbil, expressed hope that the election of a new U.S. president would positively impact the efforts for peace in the region.

Speaking with ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, Warda noted that “Christians in the region have borne the brunt of ongoing conflicts and wars in their homelands. Despite fears that rising tensions could bring more violence, they continue to hold on to a realistic yet profound hope of living in safety alongside their compatriots. They believe their shared future hinges on the promise of peace, prosperity, and nation-building.”

Warda said people around the world now have their eyes fixed on Washington, D.C., watching closely to see if the president-elect will fulfill his campaign promises to end conflicts in the Middle East.

“Christians hope the American administration will maintain its commitment to supporting peace, guaranteeing stability to these ancient communities in their homelands, and cooperating with local governments to ensure their persistence and prosperity — especially in areas where Christians are relatively present.”

Warda recalled a previous meeting with Trump in December 2018 at the White House during the signing ceremony for H.R. 390, a bill that officially recognized the atrocities committed against Christians and Yazidis as genocide.

“This bill was the culmination of our campaign to bring the world’s attention to the suffering of Christians and Yazidis, with the support from friends in both the Republican and Democratic parties,” Warda explained. “It enabled government and human rights agencies to investigate ISIS’ horrific crimes, prosecute its members, and directly support religious institutions in helping their communities heal from the aftermath of destruction.”

The bishop also noted with appreciation the close collaboration with the Knights of Columbus since 2014, gathering and documenting case files and testimonies for the cause. He remarked that “two years of collaboration with members of Trump’s team on this issue demonstrated their understanding of the suffering of these religious communities and their sincere desire to offer support.”

He emphasized that over the past eight years, official visits of prominent former Trump administration members to Erbil, their engagement with displaced families, their attentiveness to their experiences, and their direct contact with Church leaders and civil society representatives reflected an effort to bring stability to the region.

Warda concluded with a prayer that Washington’s leadership will continue to stand by vulnerable communities and work to address the root causes of migration in cooperation with Middle Eastern governments. Such efforts, he said, could ensure a brighter future for all, ending the region’s prolonged suffering from wars and conflicts because “the people deserve a better life.”

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