The failure of Christians to return to the Nineveh Plain in northern Iraq today represents the main challenge for a community profoundly affected by war, persecution by the Islamic State, and emigration. This was stated by the Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans. Polis III Ninth, in an interview with "Vatican News," emphasizing that many of the displaced have left the country permanently or prefer to live in areas considered more stable.

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"Their return depends on numerous factors, including the stability of the political situation and the hope that the painful events of the past will not be repeated," Nona explained. According to the patriarch, the physical reconstruction of Christian centers located primarily east and northeast of Mosul has not been accompanied by a similar demographic recovery. The lack of essential services and job opportunities, fear of discrimination, and competition between various political and military forces for control of the Nineveh Plains are contributing factors that slow returns.

The interview was published a few days after the 12th anniversary of the flight of tens of thousands of Christians from the Plains, which occurred on the night of August 6-7, 2014, in the face of the advance of the Islamic State. Nona, then Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, recalled having contacted priests and families to urge the evacuation of threatened villages. "All the country's institutions were paralyzed," the patriarch stated, recalling the fear of families forced to flee by car or on foot. The security situation is now "overall good," and in the areas historically inhabited by Christians, the emergency conditions of 2014 no longer exist. However, fears remain that Iraq could once again be dragged into regional tensions and become a battleground between the United States and Iran. According to Nona, the consequences of the conflict between Washington and Tehran are being felt especially on the economy and the daily lives of the Iraqi population.

The Patriarch identified the loss of hope among young people as one of the country's most serious crises. The lack of jobs and instability are pushing many young Christians to plan emigration, giving up on starting a family or participating in Iraqi public life. Adding to these difficulties are corruption, defined by Nona as "the nation's main enemy," and the influence exerted on decision-making processes through economic and political power. The plight of Christians will be the focus of the Assembly of Iraqi Catholic Bishops, convened for August 28 in Ankawa, a predominantly Christian suburb located on the outskirts of Erbil, the capital of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. It will be the body's first collegial meeting since 2021. The bishops will discuss the protection of Christian communities and territories where they have historically lived, as well as collaboration between the various Catholic Churches present in the country.