São Paulo – Pope Francis landed in Iraq on Friday (5) to a warm reception at the Bagdad International Airport, the Vatican report in its website. Iraq’s government published in its social media the reception of the Catholic Pope. The visit makes history, as it’s the first tour of a leader of the Catholic Church to the Muslim country.
One day before traveling, the pope published a message for the Iraqi. “Thank you for your witness. I pray that the many martyrs you have known may help us to persevere in the humble strength of love. I’d like to express to them the affectionate caress of the whole Church, which is close to them and to the martyred Middle East, and encourage you to go forward,” he said.
The pope arrived in Bagdad before noon, local time, and was welcomed at the airport by the prime minister Mustafa Abdellatif Mshatat, known as Al-Kadhimi, and Rahman Farhan Abdullah Al-Ameri, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Iraq to the Holy See, as well as civil and religious authorities.
Children in traditional local clothes gave Francis yellow flowers. In the airport, young Iraqis sang typical songs in Arabic and wave the flags of Iraq and the Vatican before the pope. Francis gave the prime minister a special medal regarding his first visit and a special edition of Fratelli tutti, an encyclic on fraternity and friendship.
The pope’s first speech was marked by a call for peace and that arms be silenced. “Iraq is called to show everyone, especially in the Middle East, that diversity should lead to harmonious cooperation within society, rather than giving rise to conflict, he said. Francis pointed out how much prayers have been devoted recently for peace in Iraq. He thanked for being able to make this visit.
The speech was given in the Iraqi presidential palace addressing Iraq’s authorities, the diplomatic corps and representatives of civil society. The pope made a visit to the palace led by president Barham Ahmed Salih Qassim and talked with the Iraqi leader. Then, he went to the Sayidat al-Nejat Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation) to meet with bishops, priests, religious peoples, seminarists and catechists. At the end of the day, he’ll go to the Apostolic Nunciature in Bagdad, where he’ll remain for two days.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
