"
Let the guns be silent!
May the distribution be limited, here and everywhere!
»Pope Francis launched this Friday, March 5 in Iraq, a country torn for 40 years by violence, the latest episode of which is the breakthrough of the Islamic State (IS) group defeated in 2017.
Read also: Pope Francis' high-risk trip to Iraq
After 15 months without travel due to the pandemic, the pontiff arrived in Baghdad this Friday.
In a speech, he denounced the barbarities and violence linked to "
external interests which are not interested in the local population
".
“
Enough violence, extremism, factions, intolerance!
», Hammered Pope Francis before continuing on the«
senseless barbarities
»of the Islamic State against the Yazidis.
"
I cannot but recall the Yazidis, innocent victims of senseless and inhuman barbarities, persecuted because of their religious affiliation, whose very identity and survival have been threatened
", he declared in his speech to the authorities Iraqi women.
In his address, the pontiff also pointed to the corruption that is rife in Iraq.
"
We must at the same time build justice, increase honesty, transparency and strengthen institutions
", in order to "
fight against the scourge of corruption, abuse of power and illegality
" added the leader of the 1 , 3 billion Catholics of the world, who had given his support to the Iraqi demonstrators during a revolt denouncing corruption - demonstration repressed in blood at the end of 2019.
To read also: Pope in Iraq: for Baghdad, a recognition of the State in the face of confessionalism
With the intention of reunification, in a Muslim country where Christians are no more than 1% of the 40 million inhabitants, Pope Francis pleaded for "
no one to be considered a second class citizen
".
"
It is essential to ensure the participation of all political, social and religious groups, and to guarantee the fundamental rights of all citizens,
" he continued.
Iraqi President Barham Saleh, meanwhile, said he welcomed the Pope as a "
valued guest
".