"This is a great personal honour for Msgr. Michael as it is for his family and the Diocese of Cloyne," said Bishop William Crean, wishing his colleague well in Ougadougou.
“I call upon all parties to fan the flame of dialogue and self-control – and to banish the shadow of enmity,” said Pope Francis.
Christians in Iraq, who numbered 1.5 million before 2003, have declined by 90 per cent within a generation.
In his traditional Christmas day Urbi et Orbi message, the Pontiff prayed that Syrians might “find fraternity after long years of war” and that Yemen’s recent truce would bring relief to its people and children “exhausted by war and famine”.
Fr Momika, who is from Qaraqosh, noted how 6 August marked the exact two-year anniversary since ISIS attacked his hometown, driving out inhabitants who didn’t meet their demands to convert to Islam, pay a hefty tax or face death.
“These walls are made of fear and aggression, a failure to understand people of different backgrounds or faith. They are walls of political and economic selfishness, without respect for the life and dignity of every person.”
On a visit to Dublin 'Vicar of Baghdad' Canon Andrew White recounts persecution of Christians in Middle East.
Campaigners will gather today in front of the Chaldean Church of St George in Baghdad to protest.
Islamist militants attack four churches and a monastery in Iraq's second city as violence forces 500,000 to leave region.
Mass-goers attending Christmas Day service targeted.
