Carl Hétu, director of Catholic Near East Welfare Association on Pope Francis’ Visit to Iraq this Week
Sister Luma, from the leadership team of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, visits the heavily damaged Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh in 2017. The church was burned by Islamic State militants. Pope Francis will meet with the faithful in this church on his apostolic visit to Iraq, 5-8 March. (photo: Raed Rafei)
By Carl Hétu, director of
It’s on the minds of many. Why is Pope Francis going to Iraq, March 5 to 8, in these tough times of pandemic, political instability and rumours of threats to his life?