Pope urges Iraq to embrace its Christians on historic visit
RAW: Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad By NICOLE WINFIELD and SAMYA KULLAB | March 5, 2021 at 1:55 AM CST - Updated March 5 at 11:22 AM
BAGHDAD (AP) Pope Francis opened the first 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 majority, to stay and help rebuild the country devastated by wars and strife.
Papst jubelnd in Bagdad empfangen euronews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from euronews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pope Francis is heading to Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution.
Pope makes historic visit to Iraq thezimbabwemail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thezimbabwemail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pope Francis is heading to Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution.