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From Mosul, ISIS promised to occupy Rome.
7 years later, the Pope came on a journey of peace
Francis continues his visit to Iraq, and he saw up close the devastation left by the extremist organization in the city he occupied in 2014 until he was deported three years later.
"Brotherhood is stronger than mass murder," the pope told residents, Muslims and Christians.
"Peace is stronger than war"
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Pope Francis
Mosul
Iraq
ISIS
Reuters
Sunday, 07 March 2021, 11:57
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In the video: The pope meets with the Shiite leader in Iraq (Photo: Reuters, Editing: Assaf Drori)
Pope Francis today (Sunday) visited the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which was once the stronghold of ISIS.
Continuing his historic journey in the country, he heard the testimonies of Muslim and Christian residents about life under the cruel rule of the extremist Sunni organization, and congratulated them on their struggle for survival.
The 84-year-old Catholic Church leader arrived in the area by helicopter to encourage the healing of the rifts between the various communities and to pray for the many victims of religious violence.
After passing through ruined churches and houses, Francis said that "brotherhood is stronger than mass murder."
He carried things from a square that was once the thriving center of the old city of Mosul.
The city was under ISIS control from 2014 to 2017, where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the establishment of Islamic suits and promised to occupy Rome.
"Together we say no to extremism, no ethnicity and no corruption," Mosul Archbishop Najib Michael told the pope sitting in a white chair.
The area full of ancient churches and mosques was destroyed during ISIS 'ousting of the city in 2017 by the Iraqi army and international coalition forces, but corruption and political struggles make it difficult to restore Mosul.
Many parts of it are still in ruins.
More on the historic visit
Pope meets with Iraqi Shiite leader: "Protect the weakest and most persecuted"
Pope on historic visit to Iraq: "Stop violence and extremism"
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Trying to mend the rifts in Iraqi society.
The Pope in Mosul, today (Photo: Reuters)
The pope, who seemed troubled by the destruction around him, prayed for all the victims of the city.
"How cruel it is that this country, the cradle of civilization, was tortured in such a barbaric way, when ancient places of worship were destroyed and many thousands of people - Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others - were displaced or killed," he said.
"Despite this, today we reaffirm our belief that brotherhood is stronger than brotherly murder, that hope is stronger than hatred, that peace is stronger than war."
Referring to ISIS, he said that "hope will never be silenced by the blood shed by those who distort the name of God as they walk the paths of destruction."
He then recited a prayer that repeated one of the central themes of his visit, the first of any pope in Iraq, which says that one must not hate, kill or start a war in the name of God.
Political corruption prevents the restoration of the city.
Security man with children in Mosul, today (Photo: Reuters)
"Ancient places of worship were destroyed and thousands displaced or killed."
The Pope, today (Photo: Reuters)
The pope's trip to Iraq is his first in the world since the start of the corona plague last year.
Upon arriving in the country on Friday, Francis called for an "end to violence and extremism," and made it clear that the shrinking Christian communities in the country must be given a more prominent status in Iraq, alongside full rights and freedoms.
His visit will continue tomorrow, when a large curfew was imposed on large parts of the country.
About 10,000 security personnel have been deployed in Iraq in recent days after the security situation has deteriorated in recent months.
Yesterday he met with Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Shiite leader in Iraq.
The meeting was held at Sistani's home in the holy city of Najaf, at the end of which the Vatican said that the pope thanked him for "raising his voice and defending the weakest and most persecuted, thus affirming the sanctity of life and the importance of unity of the Iraqi people."
After visiting Najaf, Francis continued to the city of Nasaria, where he hosted a joint prayer with clergy in an area considered the birthplace of Abraham.
He later held a public mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral in the capital, Baghdad.
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