DETROIT — More than 1,000 Iraqi Christians gathered for a peaceful rally and prayer vigil at Hart Plaza on Friday, Aug. 22. The crowd demanded an end to the violence plaguing Iraq’s religious minorities. 

Demonstrators also walked to the Patrick V.  McNamara Federal Building holding signs that read, “Save the Christians of Iraq”, “We Demand Action” and “Stop The Genocide in Iraq.” 

Chaldean Bishop Francis Kalabat of Southfield, who heads the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of the Eastern United States, led the crowd in prayer in both English and Chaldean. Demonstrators carried hundreds of wooden red crosses. 

Kalabat compared the struggles of Iraq’s Christians to the suffering Jesus Christ endured. 

“This is what Jesus went through…This is what Jesus experienced,” he said. “This is the God we believe in. This is the God who will continue to carry Iraq until the end of time.”

Kalabat called for an end to terrorism worldwide. He

also encouraged the crowd to pray for all those who are

suffering, and not only people who are related to them

by faith or blood. Last month more than 1,000 people attened a prayer vigil at Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield where Bishop Francis led a mass held for victims of the Iraqi crisis.