An Iraqi priest from Nineveh says Christianity is finished in his homeland.
“Today the story of Christianity is finished in Iraq,” the priest who identified himself as Fr Nawar told the Catholic News Agency on August 8.
He is currently studying in Rome.
His home city of Qaraqosh (Bakhdida) near Mosul fell to ISIS forces last week and more than 100,000 Christians fled, with many taking nothing but the clothes on their backs.
“There are so many families who can’t eat, they can’t get bread,” Fr Nawar lamented.
The Obama administration has authorised “targeted airstrikes” to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and defend US military advisors in Iraq.
It is also airdropping humanitarian aid to a Yazidi group trapped in the mountains of Sinjar without access to food or water.
Pope Francis has announced the appointment of Cardinal Fernando Filoni as his personal envoy to Iraq.