Iraqi officials say the successful four-day visit is a testament to Iraqi capabilities and the battered country’s integral role in the region.
Tag: Roman Catholic Church
Pope Francis Defends Iraq Trip During Coronavirus Pandemic
The pontiff said that he had wrestled with the decision to travel, but put the fate of the Iraqis who flocked to see him in God’s hands.
Pope Francis’ Iraq Trip Ends, but Coronavirus Fears Remain
Crowds gathered over Francis’ three-day visit, sporting high spirits but few masks. Few in the country have been vaccinated.
Amid the Rubble of Mosul, Francis Offers a Salve for Iraq’s Wounds
The first pope ever to visit Iraq, Francis voiced sorrow and hope for a shrunken Christian community that has suffered persecution, and preached fellowship among religions.
Pope Francis Meets Iraq’s Top Ayatollah as Both Urge Peace
The meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani came as Francis sought to protect his persecuted flock in Iraq by forging closer bonds between the Roman Catholic Church and the Muslim world.
Pope Francis Begins Visit to Iraq
The pope’s four-day trip is intended to nurture ties with Shiite Muslims and encourage a Christian population decimated by years of strife.
In Pictures: Pope Francis in Iraq
As the pope makes a three-day trip to Iraq, a look at images of the historic moment.
In Iraq’s Christian Heartland, a Feud Over a Town’s Identity
Pope Francis will arrive in a country whose ancient Christian towns are in danger of disappearing. In one, a Christian community’s survival may come at the expense of another minority group.
Why Is Pope Francis Visiting Iraq?
The trip is taking place despite concerns about the pandemic and security. Here’s a brief look at why Francis is visiting Iraq, what the trip will entail and what he hopes to achieve.
Pope’s Planned Visit to Iraq, Amid Pandemic, Raises Questions of Timing
Pope Francis has said he is determined to visit the war-torn country. But some worry that the visit will become a superspreader event in a land where the virus still rages.