Muslims join Christians for Mass
Shiite Muslim clerics and tribal leaders are among the crowd in Mar Eliya, a Chaldean church in Baghdad, for the Christmas Mass said by Emmanuel III Delly, the patriarch who last month was elevated to become Iraq’s first Roman Catholic cardinal.
By Usama Redha and Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 26, 2007

BAGHDAD -- Outside Mar Eliya church, not much had changed since last Christmas: Concrete blocks still surround the building and guards check the IDs of those entering.

But inside, hundreds of Iraqi worshipers -- Christians and Muslims -- were crammed into the overflowing Chaldean Catholic church Tuesday, celebrating the holiday and the fact that they felt safe enough to venture out of their homes to attend Christmas Mass."

Last year was the year of misery, desperation and sadness," said Samar Jorge Gorges, 33. "But this year is better. So many people attend the Mass and you can see that their praying was joyful." the rest