In Mosul, UNESCO's commitment to rebuilding the future

The head of the United Nations Agency engaged in Iraq, tells of the careful work that is being carried out from cultural heritage to the housing context to give the country a hope of returning to normal after the destruction of the war.

Massimiliano Menichetti - Vatican City To meet the Pope in Mosul, a city that symbolizes the destruction and suffering caused by the war, is Paolo Fontani, UNESCO director and representative in Iraq. If, as the Pope said right in the rubble of this city, "hope is stronger than death", Unesco, with its commitment to artistic, cultural but also housing reconstruction, goes in this direction. "Rebuilding with stones - he says - is symbolic of the reconstruction of hearts and the Pope's visit brings hope in this sense". In his words, the work undertaken and the message contained therein, with a look also at the path of reconciliation and interreligious dialogue which in reconstruction has an important element.

Culture and dialogue between religions The commitment in Mosul is titanic because the destruction was titanic explains Fontani - and all efforts are for now concentrated on the recovery of religious buildings, Christian and Muslim, churches as well as mosques, an immense patrimony. "The city needs to be reborn - he says - and the Pope's visit to Mosul brings hope to a people who, despite the sufferings suffered, have a great" desire to do ". Fontani also illustrates the silent and almost hidden dialogue that exists. between buildings of different religions, to say that a peaceful mosaic of coexistence that has always existed in Iraq and that the violence of recent years will not be able to tarnish.

In the words of the Unesco representative also the link between the reconstruction work in Iraq and the Abu Dhabi appointment which ended with the signing of the Document on human brotherhood in 2019. Since then joint projects have been born - he explains - which allow UNESCO to give substance to the journey of brotherhood so desired by religious leaders. It is a question of strengthening relations between religions with culture as well, explains Fontani. Finally, Unesco's commitment is also in residential areas: "There is an effort, thanks to the help of the EU and the Emirates - he explains - that has already made it possible to rebuild 45 houses and another 75 by this month". What is most important to Unesco is "that people return to live together and rediscover their identity".

VATICAN NEWS ~ ITALY ~ HOLY SEE PRESS (Translated on 03/07/2021) https://www.vaticannews.va/it/papa/news/2021-03/unesco-papa-francesco-iraq-mosul-ricostruzione-speranza-fontani.html