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His Holiness, Pope Francis, will arrive in Iraq next March as a “pilgrim,” according to a statement from the Vatican published on its official website.
His Holiness, Pope Francis, will be in Iraq next March as a “pilgrim,” according to a statement from the Vatican posted on its official website.
The Vatican website described Iraq as a “holy country” inhabited by the prophets, praising its history and its various components.
This visit comes after an official invitation from the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq and the Catholic Church in Iraq.
The site lists in context some of the objectives of the Pope’s visit, which culminates in other visits to Muslim-majority countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
During his visit to the United Arab Emirates in early 2019, the Pope signed an important document with the Imam of Al-Azhar entitled “The Document of the Human Fraternity for World Peace and Life Together”.
Two months later, he was in Morocco to sign an appeal with the King of Morocco on Jerusalem.
Support for minorities
The statement says that the Pope is addressing Iraq, at a time when his predecessors were unable to do so, due to the complexity of the pressing circumstances that have prevailed in recent times, including wars, sectarian violence, terrorist attacks and the complexity of political affairs.
Therefore, the Pope is visiting Iraq in support of minorities that have been harassed and killed by terrorist groups.
The Vatican highlighted the difficulties faced by Christian and Yezidi minorities, especially residents of the Nineveh and Mosul plains, and neighboring towns and cities, who were forcibly displaced in the wake of terrorist acts carried out by ISIS there. moment.
The pope is trying to encourage the Christian community in Iraq, which has resisted the political “turmoil” that ensued, including foreign wars or internal fighting.
There is still a “brilliant and wonderful” Christian presence, as the statement says, despite the significant decline in numbers.
Encouraging the displaced to return
The statement also noted that the pope intends to examine the situation of the displaced in Mosul, who fled the fighting during years of war and terrorism.
The Pope wishes to encourage those who remain firm in the land of their ancestors despite successive disasters, especially during his scheduled visit to the city of Erbil, where there are currently large numbers of people forcibly displaced from Mosul and the cities of the plain of Nineveh.
He will also visit Mosul and Qaraqosh to encourage forcibly displaced people living abroad to return to the land of their ancestors and grandparents.
Means of support for interreligious dialogue
The Pope also wishes to promote dialogue and coexistence between all religious components, either at the ecumenical level between sister Churches, or through Islamic-Christian relations.
The statement noted that there is no Christian-Sunni dialogue, so the pope would like to make a new breakthrough in the field similar to the long-standing Shiite-Christian dialogue.
It will also focus on the convergence of views among various religious minorities, such as the Mandaeans, Yazidis and Baha’is, as well as other religions and traditions.
Promotion of political consultation
Pope Francis will send a message to seek ways of peace, dialogue, brotherhood and constructive cooperation among the various politicians in Iraq in order to rebuild a strong modern Iraqi state after years of cruel and bitter wars, sectarian disputes and attacks by terrorist groups. to restore the spirit of hope among all Iraqis, especially the youth, for the future. Best.
It is noteworthy that Pope John Paul II had a serious desire to visit Iraq in 1999, but due to the siege imposed on Iraq by the government of President Saddam Hussein, the visit that was scheduled for that year was canceled.
For his part, the Dean of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandry, expressed in an interview with Vatican News, his hope that the visit will contribute to rebuilding the mosaic of human and historical riches in the Middle East region, noting that his thinking is directed at Christians and the rest of the population. Syria and Iraq, which see their cultures disappear due to protracted conflicts.
He also said that the Pope’s upcoming visit would be a source of condolence for the peoples of the Middle East, especially Iraq, who have suffered and continue to suffer wars, persecutions and displacement.
Cardinal Sandrie highlighted, in this context, the need to pay tribute to the shepherds who decided to remain in their land despite all the difficulties, threats and attacks “and were an example of the good shepherd who does not flee.”
He explained that the Pope’s visit to Iraq will set a message for the entire Middle East region, which is suffering from turmoil, especially in light of what is currently happening in Syria and Lebanon.
He said the Pope wanted to encourage everyone to live together in peace and be witnesses of God’s love.
In response to a question about the reception that the Pope will receive from Muslims, the Dean of the Congregation of Eastern Churches referred to the last public message issued by the Vatican, the so-called Document of Human Fraternity, also known as the “Declaration from Abu Dhabi “.
He asked: “How can we build a world more peaceful, just, free and respectful of human rights and religious freedom, if we do not take into account all the brothers, regardless of their religious affiliation?”
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