Mr. Speaker, I rise in the house today, to welcome to Canada His Beatitude Louis Raphaël I Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church of Babylon.
Patriarch Sako is visiting Canada for the installation of the new Chaldean eparch, Bishop Soro.
Christians in Iraq have long faced persecution from terrorist groups. Recently, I met with the patriarch of the Melchite Catholic Church who visited my riding of Markham—Unionville. I also attended a religious service of prayers for peace at St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto to pray for Coptics and other Middle Eastern Christians, who are facing persecution.
I am proud to stand with my Conservative colleagues to defend religious freedom at home and abroad. I warmly welcome His Beatitude to Canada.