On the evening of Friday, April 25, 2025, Lebanese singer and hymn performer Layal Nehme held a spiritual evening of hymns in the city of Zakho, Duhok Governorate, to celebrate the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection and in memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, who passed away a few days ago at the age of 88.
The event was organized in coordination between the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts and the Chaldean Diocese of Zakho. It was hosted at St. George the Martyr Cathedral in Zakho and attended by the bishop of the diocese, His Excellency Mar Felix Shabi, along with priests, nuns, deacons, choirs, and youth from the villages affiliated with the Diocese of Zakho, as well as youth from Mar Ith Alaha Church in Duhok, and a large gathering of the faithful.
In his address during the event, Director General of Syriac Culture and Arts, Mr. Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, affirmed: “Our deep faith in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and His triumph over death teaches us that our people never perish—they always rise from the ashes, carrying the legacy of their ancestors and the hope of resurrection.” Reflecting on Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq, he added, “His visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region taught us that we are all brothers, united in humility and humanity.”
Oghanna went on to say, “The participation of Lebanese hymn singer Layal Nehme in this evening represents a symbolic gesture of Maronite solidarity and return to shared roots—something we hold in great esteem, as it reaffirms our deeply rooted heritage in this Eastern land.” He also commemorated the 110th anniversary of the Sayfo Massacre, committed against our people during World War I on the lands of the former Ottoman Empire, remembered annually on April 24.
In closing, Oghanna praised the efforts of the Chaldean Diocese of Zakho in preserving the identity of the people, extending his gratitude to its esteemed bishop, Mar Felix Shabi, and wishing him continued success in serving the Church and community.
On the sidelines of the event, the Director General visited the statue of the scholar Paulus Beidari, a figure representing a luminous chapter in the history of faith and thought in the region. He also wrote a message in the memorial book in honor of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
It is worth noting that the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Kurdistan Region had previously mourned the passing of Pope Francis, who entered eternal rest on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2025. The Directorate extended its heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic Church, to our Catholic churches in the homeland, and to all Christians of the East on this great loss.
