Pope Francis walks alongside Iraq s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhem upon his arrival in Baghdad on March 5, 2021, on the first papal visit to Iraq. Pope Francis began his historic trip to war-scarred Iraq, defying security concerns and the coronavirus pandemic to comfort one of the world s oldest and most persecuted Christian communities. | VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images
Pope Francis described his first visit to war-torn Iraq amid a raging pandemic and security concerns as a “pilgrimage of peace,” bringing focus on that country’s dwindling Christian population that suffered mass killings by the Islamic State terror group and a mass exodus.
Pope urges end to violence as he makes historic Iraq visit
No pope has ever visited Iraq, home to one of the world s oldest Christian communities
5 March 2021 • 4:33pm
Pope Francis visits the Syro-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad
Credit: Sam Tarling
Pope Francis landed in Baghdad on Friday on the first ever papal visit to Iraq, a deeply symbolic and potentially dangerous trip to rally the country s dwindling Christian population.
The 84-year old was greeted on the runway by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, an honour guard in white plumed helmets, and lines of dancing men and women wearing the traditional folkloric costumes of Iraq s numerous ethnic groups.