About 100 people attended the Sunday morning mass in Irbil, which kicked off the march scheduled to run through Holy Week. 

"They will walk from Irbil to Alqosh in the Ninevah Plain, needing one week or more because the journey is very long, some 87 miles," Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad told Catholic News Service. "I will join them in a village near Alqosh on Holy Thursday."

Sako said the march is a "great occasion for unity" and he believes there is an opportunity to stand against the violence that has scarred Iraq.

In 2003, more than one million Christians were living in Iraq in 2003, but today's numbers are closer to 250,000. 

Many Iraqi Christians were either killed by the Islamic State or fled. However, now that U.S.-led coalition forces have taken several cities back for ISIS, the focus has returned to rebuilding homes and churches once destroyed by the terror group.

Sako said he hopes the peace initiative will be the start of "a real resurrection, a quick return of displaced to their homes, and a restoration of peace at our churches, country, and the whole world."

"Peace must be achieved by us [religious leaders] as well as politicians, through courageous initiatives and responsible decisions," he said.          

CBN News

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Watch: Nail-Biting Moment Woman Falls on Subway Tracks, Hero NYPD Cops Save Her Just in Time

'Biden's Border Crisis': Shocking Numbers in Senate Republicans' Report Detailing the Disaster at America's Southern Border

Sneaky Joe's New Plan to Steal the Midterms

Supreme Court Rules Republican Lawmakers Can Defend North Carolina's Voter Integrity Laws

Crisis Pregnancy Center President Stands Firm in Face of Vandalism and Threats

Alveda King: Dobbs Case Decision Will Save Lives; 'Civil Rights Begin in the Womb'

Historic: Supreme Court of United States Officially Overturns 'Roe v. Wade'

'Share the Love of Christ': Louisiana Church Gives Away 200 Free Gas Cards as Price at the Pump Soars

Chevron CEO Fires Back at Biden, Slams 'Political Rhetoric' in New Letter

Abortion Disproportionately Targets Black Babies; CDC: 74% of Abortions in Mississippi Were Performed on Black Mothers

Louisiana's Democratic Governor Signs Pro-Life Law Criminalizing Mail-Order Abortion Pills

A New Opportunity for Sweet Cakes' Kleins, as Their Legal Battle Continues: 'God Is the Rock We Stand On, His Love Will Conquer All Fears'

Parent of 'De-Transitioned' Child Gives HEARTBREAKING Plea to Stop Trans Sanctuary Bill

US Supreme Court Upholds Concealed-Carry Right of Self-Defense for Law-Abiding Citizens

Hundreds of Female Inmates Baptized as 'God Behind Bars' Ministry Shares the Redeeming Power of Jesus

'This Is Not My Dad': Hero Mom Outside Florida Church Saves Two Kids from Alleged Kidnapping

Biden Administration Caves to Environmental Groups, Delays Oil and Gas Lease Sales Again

Biden Administration to Force Schools to Adopt Radical Gender Policies; Here's What You Need to Know

Faith Leaders, Members of Congress Demand US AG Respond to Acts of Pro-Abortion Terrorism

Texas GOP Platform Affirms 'God's Biblical Design for Marriage' and the Sanctity of Life; Says Gay Marriage Decision 'Should Be Nullified'