In visit to Baghdad, Pope Francis urges Iraq to embrace its Christians
By Nicole Winfield and Samya Kullab
Published
Pope Francis arrives in Iraq
Pope Francis landed in Baghdad on March 5 for a historic visit to rally the country s dwindling Christian population. (Credit: Vatican News via Storyful)
BAGHDAD (AP) - Pope Francis opened the first-ever papal visit to Iraq on Friday with a plea for the country to protect its centuries-old diversity, urging Muslims to embrace their Christian neighbors as a precious resource and asking the embattled Christian community though small like a mustard seed to persevere.
Francis brushed aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to resume his globe-trotting papacy after a yearlong hiatus spent under COVID-19 lockdown in Vatican City. His primary aim over the weekend is to encourage Iraq’s dwindling Christian population, which was violently persecuted by the Islamic State group and still faces discrimination by the Muslim
The world leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has started a first-ever papal visit to Iraq. Describing himself as "a pilgrim of peace" the pontiff is expected to urge the country’s dwi…
Pope Francis heads to Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing.
Updated: March 5, 2021, 9:53 am
Pope Francis gives a blessing as he prepares to fly to Baghdad from Fiumicino’s International airport Leonardo da Vinci, near Rome (Cecilia Fabiano/ LaPresse/AP)
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Pope Francis was heading to Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to make his first-ever papal visit.