Leaders of several Christian denominations in Iraq rejoined the “Coexistence and Tolerance” seminar set to take place in April, as their demands were met in the seminar’s closing statement. The groups initially withdrew in protest of the continued hate crimes against Christians in Iraq.

The Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI has received 26 Iraqi Christians who were injured in the attacks by terrorist group al-Qā‘idah on October 31st. France received an additional 35. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone condemned the terrorist attacks and said that the Pope feels close to the Iraqi victims of discrimination.