The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has been in Iraq to meet with Irish officers and soldiers in the run-up to Christmas.
Archbishop Robin Eames’ meeting with the troops, from every county in Ireland, Sunday comes as part of his three-day pastoral visit to the 1st Battalion of The Royal Irish Regiment currently serving in Iraq.The Archbishop met with the soldiers of all ranks during a visit to Basrah Air Station and Shaibah, where he also held services and celebrated Holy Communion with the servicemen and women.
In his visit, Archbishop Eames stressed that the visit was of a purely pastoral nature for troops who would be spending their Christmas away from their friends and family.
Archbishop Eames said in his address and conversation with the troops that the soldiers “are in the thoughts and prayers of those back home as Christmas approaches”.
He added that he was very impressed with the 1st Irish Regiment, “their family togetherness, their professionalism especially in the uncertainty of the future of Iraq”.
During his visit, the Archbishop also met with soldiers going out on patrol and conducted a sunset field service featuring festive carols.Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Dr John Neill, has issued a call for Christian generosity at home and overseas during the Christmas period.
In his Christmas Message, Archbishop Neill insisted that “Christmas is not about any opting out of the real world”.
“For those in the depths of any disaster, natural, accidental or personal, God often seems so very far away,” he said. “How wonderful it could be if your giving and my giving allowed somebody to realise not only that others care, but even more that God is with them in their need.”
He urged: “Christmas is about more than nostalgia. It is about the real God being concerned about the real world. Generosity can make Christmas real for others this year!”
