Iraq’s Christians, like all Iraqis, have suffered greatly since the invasion and subsequent occupation of their country by American troops.

But unlike Sunnis, Kurds, and Shi’ias, Iraqis Christians have often been left without any defense for this minority is too small to properly arms itself. Most recently, Iraqi Christians in the historic Christian city of Mosul have been threatened by Kurds who seek to display Arabs, Christians and Muslims, from the city the Kurdistan regional government would like to encompass under its authority.

[A Christmas parade in Baghdad]

But Iraqi Christians did receive some relief and cause for hope in their country this Christmas.

A gift from the Iraqi government. The national government made Christmas an official holiday for the first time ever.

Speaking in a Baghdad monastery, Chaldean Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly thanked national leaders, “I thank the government for giving chances to all to serve each other for the general benefit, and I thank it too for making this day an official holiday where we pray to God to make us trust each other as brothers.”

Iraqi Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, son of the head of Iraqi’s most prominent Shi’ia party, was a guest at the Mass.

“We came here to bring a message of love, respect and gratitude to our Christian brothers and to share happiness with them as we have shared sadness with them during the cruel targeting they came under. We will do our best for equality between people and a good life for all, whatever their religious, sectarian and ethnic background,” al-Hakim told an Iraqi news channel.

“I thank the visitors here and ask them to share happiness and love with their brothers on Christmas; by this they will build a glorious Iraq,” the cardinal said in thanking the cleric and praying for a better Iraq.