Pope Francis

This handout picture released by Ayatollah Sistani's media office shows Iraq's most revered Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (L) meeting with Pope Francis and his delegation, at his home in the holy city of Najaf, on March 6, 2021. Photo: AFP/Ayatollah Sistani's media office Meeting between two leaders lasted 50…

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March 6, 2021 | 2:20am | Updated March 6, 2021 | 2:21am Enlarge Image Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday and met with senior government officials on the first-ever papal visit to the country, aimed at promoting his call for greater fraternity among all peoples. AP NAJAF, Iraq — Pope…

Pope Francis begins a long-desired trip to Iraq Friday, the first to the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham by any head of the Catholic Church. It is the first trip by Pope Francis to a foreign country since the pandemic, and everyone on the papal plane has been vaccinated against…

Speaking at the presidential palace welcome ceremony, the pontiff urged people to overcome their differences and “leave to future generations a better, more just and more humane world."March 5, 2021 Read More

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As His Holiness visits Iraq, the status of the persecuted Christian community in the country remains uncertain. ROME, ITALY - MARCH 05: Pope Francis departs for his trip to Iraq from Leonardo Da Vinci airport on March 05, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Pope Francis will start the historic first ever…

Pope Francis has called for an end to “violence and extremism” in his opening address on the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, long scarred by war and now gripped by the coronavirus pandemic. The 84-year-old defied a second wave of the global pandemic and renewed security fears to make a…

Pope Francis on Friday called for an end to violence in Iraq as he arrived in the country for a historic visit. The 84-year-old pontiff said he is making the trip, which has been planned for several years, as a "pilgrim of peace". "Let the guns fall silent,” he said…

Mr President, Members of government and the diplomatic corps, Distinguished authorities, Representatives of civil society, Ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful for the opportunity to make this long-awaited and desired visit to the Republic of Iraq, and to come to this land, a cradle of civilisation closely linked through the…