This handout photograph released on January 27, 2021 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis holding a live streamed weekly private audience in the library of the apostolic palace in The Vatican, during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Like sunshine after the rain, Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq-the first papal visit this year and the first of any papal visit to Iraq in its entire history- There were many legitimate odds piled against the visit of this 266th Pontiff to the Middle Eastern country of 40 million predominantly Shi’ite Muslims. These odds are better imagined and not experienced; rocket attacks, suicide bombings, roadside bombings, occasional rumblings from the defeated Islamic State group, sectarian violence, increasing coronavirus infections, predominantly unvaccinated population, a curfew, a lockdown, the Pope’s sciatica and his known respiratory history of only one, full, functioning lung.