Introduction
On September 12‑14, 2026, almost seven hundred young Christians gathered in Baghdeda, Iraq, for the sixth Baghdeda Youth Festival. Organized under the theme “In the Footsteps of St. Francis,” the three‑day event brought together youth, clergy, and faithful from the Syriac Catholic Diocese of Mosul and its surrounding communities.
Faithful Procession and Spiritual Reflection
The festival opened with a vibrant “Hosanna Procession” that began at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Baghdeda (Qaraqosh) and followed the traditional Palm Sunday route toward St. John Church. Led by Bishop Benedictus Younan Hanno, former diocesan bishops Yohanna Boutros Moshe and Georges al‑Qass Moussa, priests, religious men and women, and thousands of faithful, the procession featured hymns, chants, and olive branches as symbols of peace. The journey concluded with the Syriac “Service of the Cross — Teshmeshta” and the lighting of the festival torch.
Bishop Hanno’s opening reflection, titled “Leave Everything That Makes You Lose Yourself,” emphasized Christian freedom as a responsible response to God, echoing the life‑long humility of St. Francis of Assisi.
Conferences and Pilgrimages
A spiritual conference presented by Dominican Father Nuwairan Nasser, “St. Francis: A Living Model for Our Young People in Living Hope,” encouraged participants to embody the saint’s values of simplicity, service, and love for creation. Throughout the festival, young believers divided into groups for pilgrimages to historic churches in Baghdeda, including St. Ephrem the Syriac, Sts. Behnam and Sarah, St. James the Mutilated, St. John the Baptist, and St. Joseph.
The second day extended the journey to Mosul, where restored churches such as St. Thomas, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of the Annunciation welcomed the youth. Here, Chorbishop Emmanuel Kallo led a conference, “Forgive So That You May Be Free,” highlighting forgiveness as a path to personal and communal healing.
Eucharistic Prayer and Community Impact
The festival concluded with Eucharistic adoration at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, reinforcing the centrality of the sacrament in the participants’ spiritual lives. Residents of Baghdeda and Mosul greeted the crowds, describing the event as a renewal of the Christian presence in their historic homeland.
Conclusion
The 2026 Baghdeda Youth Festival demonstrated the vitality of Iraq’s young Christians, their commitment to service, and their hope for a peaceful future rooted in the example of St. Francis. By combining prayer, pilgrimage, and powerful teaching, the event fostered a renewed sense of identity and purpose among the next generation of believers.