It was a visit eagerly awaited by Iraqi Catholics.
Pope Francis landed in Iraq this Friday for a trip described as historic.
It is the first time that a head of the Catholic Church has visited this country.
During this stay, he intends to comfort one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
"Stop the guns!"
He said in a speech shortly after his arrival.
“Religion, by its very nature, must be at the service of peace and brotherhood.
The name of God cannot be used to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression.
"
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Under high protection and circulating alone and masked under strict anti-Covid confinement, the 84-year-old pontiff thanked "bishops and priests, for having remained close" to a minority that has grown in twenty years to 1.5 million members to less than 400,000 due to violence and crises.
During his stay - which will end on Monday after 1,445 km traveled mainly by air to avoid areas where jihadists are still hiding - the Pope will also reach out to Muslims by meeting Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, more high authority for many Shiites in Iraq and around the world.