The prelates noted that Christians "are an authentic component and founder" in Syria and Iraq. They called for solidarity among all citizens to build peace, hope and unity.

The treaty’s offhand attitude toward the non-European world stirred up resentments that lingered for decades.

A U.S. war with Iran would be far costlier than our disastrous invasion of Iraq, writes Margot Patterson, but it may be the outcome of the Trump administration’s draconian economic sanctions and reckless saber-rattling.

“There is little probability that another war in the most volatile region in the world, where the recent and current experiences of conflict in Syria, Iraq and Yemen are vivid, will succeed in bringing peace to the region."

“We have a mission here; we have a mission with the Muslim people. Our Christian community believes in this mission, that we should be ready to stay, to take this responsibility,” no matter the risks.

Christians are slowly returning to help rebuild northern Iraq, but many remain fearful of an ISIS resurgence and feel abandoned by the national government.