Pope Francis Arrives Iraq In An Historic Visit

Pope Francis has landed in the war-torned Iraq in what appears to be an historic visit.

His plane landed the country at around 1:55 pm (1055 GMT), waving the flags of both Vatican City and Iraq as it taxied on the tarmac at Baghdad International Airport, where Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi greeted him.

This is the first time Iraq will witness a papal visit and according to the 84 year old, his visit is a 'pilgrim of peace', 'to implore forgiveness and reconciliation from the Lord after years of war and terrorism.'

During his visits, The first day of the pope’s ambitious itinerary will see him meet government officials and clerics in the capital Baghdad, including at the Our Lady of Salvation church, where a jihadist attack left dozens dead in 2010.

Pope Francis will also preside over a half dozen services in ravaged churches, refurbished stadiums and remote desert locations, where attendance will be limited to allow for social distancing.

He will also visit the northern province of Nineveh, where in 2014 IS jihadists forced minorities to flee, convert to Islam or be put to death.

Francis, a major supporter of inter-religious dialogue, will afterwards hold an interfaith service at the desert site of the ancient city of Ur, where Abraham is thought to have been born.

The number of Iraq’s Christians have collapsed over years of persecution and sectarian violence, from 1.5 million in 2003 to fewer than 400,000 today.

The visit aims not only to encourage Christians to stay in their homeland, but even prompt some emigres to return, from nearby Lebanon or Jordan, or from the far-flung diaspora in countries like Canada or Australia.


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