Catholic and Orthodox Patriarchs of the East voiced absolute solidarity with the Christians of Iraq and called for the protection of minorities and the combat of terrorist organizations.

Catholic and Orthodox Patriarchs of the East voiced absolute solidarity with the Christians of Iraq and called for the protection of minorities and the combat of terrorist organizations.

Orient Patriarchs' fresh stance came in a press conference at the conclusion of their visit to Erbil, whereby they pronounced utter spiritual, moral, humanitarian and financial support to the brethren Christians who were displaced from their land.

"Don't think of immigration... cling to your roots that date back 2000 years... We are beside you," Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi said in the press conference.

Cardinal Rahi also outlined the three dimensions of the Patriarchs' visit to Erbil, including the call upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in this regard.

"It is not permissible that a terrorist organization- such as ISIL- dominates over safe people and seize their properties while the international community stands idle," said Rahi, announcing that they-as Patriarchs- shall ask of the international community to protect minorities and combat all terrorist organizations.

For his part, Melkite Patriarch of the Antioch and All the East and Alexandria, Gregory III Laham, said that they shall work for the dignity of every human being, urging all Arabs to build a better world in our region, based on love and coexistence.

Patriarch of the Chaldeans in Iraq and the World, Mar Raphael Louis Sako I, hoped that the current ordeal would not last long, wishing that all those who were displaced would be soon repatriated to their homes and lands.

Patriarch Sako appealed to the UN and the Security Council to assume their duties in this regard.

Syriac Catholic Patriarch of the Antioch, Ignatius Joseph III Younan, said that "the world cannot accept that a humanitarian group be exterminated no matter to which race or religion it belongs."

Syriac Orthodox Church Patriarch, Ignatius Ephrem, called on the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to pay a visit to Iraq in order to see for himself the current events taking place there and the way of living endured by the displaced.

He also implored Pope Francis to play a bigger role in this regard.