An English cardinal and an Iraqi archbishop have jointly blessed a crucifix that survived the destruction of ISIS.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil met at Archbishop’s House in London to bless the crucifix, which, while still intact, had been found in the rubble left behind by ISIS in Iraq.

The crucifix was discovered by Stephen Rasche, chief counsel and projects’ coordinator for the Chaldean Catholic Church. Mr Rasche spotted it half-buried outside St George’s Church, in Baqofah village, near the Iraqi town of Alqosh.