archbishop arabic november february march northern iraq known ethnic born lived entire life city long established community catholics came worldwide attention kidnapped gunmen subsequently found dead event drew condemnation vatican foreign governments biography born catholic family spent nearly life city largest oldest christian populations iraq entered peter junior major seminary baghdad order priest june briefly worked baghdad appointed completed religious studies theology rome later founded church sacred heart town miles north opened handicapped children january bishops elected archbishop february ordained archbishop giving responsibility catholics parishes ordained patriarch church known ship called expressed moves incorporate law fundamentally iraqi constitution continued life lead worship difficult situations trip rome patriarch iii appointed cardinal threatened gunmen native town following start iraq war persecution christians iraq increased dramatically commented situation christians interview shortly kidnapping kidnapping death late february according report given kidnapped car district city driver killed according church officials gunmen sprayed archbishop car bullets killed bishop trunk car darkness managed pull church telling officials pay ransom release said believed money paid good works killing evil actions officials said reports stated investigators believed archbishop shot time kidnapping demanded christians contribute captors demanded release arab non iraqi paid million release demanded iraqi christians form militia fight forces march reported archbishop body found buried shallow grave near officials iraq said received telling body buried reports cause death contradictory official said archbishop health problems including high blood pressure diabetes died natural causes police said archbishop appeared dead week body bore bullet wounds deputy governor stated relatives authorities went location specified found body gunshot wounds identity murder disputed community believe arab factions murder christians including archbishop family believe ordered assassination authorities ordered investigation subsequently arrests reports failed convince family archbishop believed highest ranking clergyman killed iraq war funeral services held town presence international reactions vatican city pope stated murder act violence dignity human pope denounced year long iraq war saying provoked complete breakup iraqi civilian life violence hatred iraq said applause end palm sunday mass iraq prime minister said attack work criminal gang intent provoking religious strife united_kingdom british foreign secretary said archbishop kidnapping act individuals rejected dialogue peaceful politics killing represents act violence thoughts archbishop family united_states president bush quoted saying send community people iraq terrorists continue lose iraq savage cruel said act peaceful leader vulnerable minority community moral code patriarch iii broke funeral services urged christians friday seek revenge death archbishop aftermath killers named found arrested iraq cell leader sentenced death high representatives opposed death sentence called iraqi christian community work muslim develop ties religious divisions iraq
Paulos Faraj Rahho