The Iraqi Christian Relief Council will be welcoming the visit of Pope Francis to the United States with a candlelight vigil for the victims of genocide and religious persecution — especially Christians in the Middle East. It purpose will be to ask Pope Francis to call this persecution what it really is, under international law — a genocide. This interfaith commemoration will include representatives of many groups that have suffered the effects of intolerant governments and movements. The event will honor the courage of those who endured persecution in the past, and call the public’s attention to the alarming threats to religious freedom and cultural diversity today. It will be an evening of prayer, witness and memory; an exploration of what it means today when we say “Never again.”

Speakers will include:

Dr. Walid Phares, professor and author, The Lost Spring:  U.S. Policy in the Middle East and Catastrophes to Avoid.

Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, President of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America.

Jason Jones, President, Movie to Movement; Producer, Bella.

Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy.

Julian Taimoorazy, Founder and President, Iraqi Christian Relief Council.

The event will take place at Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, on Monday, September 21 from 7:00-8:00 PM. For more information, see Eventbrite.