São Paulo – The Vatican announced this Monday (7) that Pope Francis will pay a visit to Iraq from March 5 to 8, 2021. Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni issued a note stating that the pope accepted an invitation of the Republic of Iraq and the local Catholic Church for an apostolic trip.
Pope Francis will go to Baghdad, Ur, Erbil, Mosul, and Qaraqosh. Ur is the birthplace of the patriarch Abraham. The Vatican said the full schedule for the trip is in the works, and it will contemplate the ongoing global health emergency. This will be the supreme Catholic pontiff’s first trip outside of Italy since the pandemic broke out.
Francis had expressed his willingness to visit Iraq during a meeting with representatives from Eastern churches last year. Iraq is a predominantly Muslim country. Last year, the pope travelled to the United Arab Emirates – another Islamic country –, and he became the first leader of the Catholic Church ever to visit the Arabian Peninsula.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
