Monthly Archives: March 2021

An Iraqi Christian woman walks by a banner depicting Pope Francis on a wall of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baghdad days after the pontiff’s historic visit AHMAD AL-RUBAYE Baghdad (AFP) Iraqi Christians say they will “never forget the joy” of Pope Francis’ historic visit to the country but they don’t expect it to stem the…

When Vida Hanna was told by the Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Erbil that Pope Francis was coming to Iraq, she thought to herself it was just another rumor. By Alejandro BermudezWhen Vida Hanna was told by the Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean…

Some said the pope should have called for Christian Iraqis to be provided with compensation for their suffering and loss of property.Pope Francis, surrounded by shells of destroyed churches, leads a prayer for the victims of war at Hosh al-Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul, Iraq, once the de-facto capital…

By Inés San Martín, Pope Francis is greeted by an Iraqi woman upon his arrival at Erbil airport during his Apostolic Journey to Iraq. Image: Vatican News  Although the impact of papal trips is often hard to assess in the immediate aftermath, such cautions mean little to the leader…

During the Sunday Angelus on March 7, the Pope prayed with Christians at a church in Bakhdida, also known as Qaraqosh, a town 20 miles southeast of Mosul which was occupied by ISIS from 2014 to 2016.…

By: Kathryn Lopez – As Pope Francis landed in Baghdad after the short flight from Rome, I was reviewing his words from an evening prayer service he held last March. That night, you could hear Italian ambulance sirens go by – this was no escape from the pandemic reality we were all facing.…

  Pope Francis delivers his speech during a March 7 meeting with the Qaraqosh community at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The story of Doha Sabah Abdallah, who’s son’s death alerted an entire Christian village in Iraq’s north of the impending militant onslaught, resonated deeply with Pope Francis during a…

While they are joyful and grateful for the visit, they also stress the importance of building on the pilgrimage’s momentum in order to secure lasting improvement.Pope Francis blesses a young boy during his visit to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Bakhdida (Qaraqosh), Iraq, March 7. (photo: Vatican Media/National…

Pope Francis became the first pope to visit Iraq in the 2,000-year history of the papacy and electrified the country with a message of unity and peace.Pope Francis met with the President of the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan and with the Prime Minister at the Erbil Airport on March 7th, 2021. (photo: Vatican Media)…

The file photo shows the facade of Saint Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran.Followers of religious minorities in Iran co-exist peacefully, enjoy all constitutional rights and play a substantial role along with their Muslim brothers in defending the nation, says the secretary of the Iranian Judiciary’s High Council for Human Rights.…

Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFPJohn Burger – Archbishop Bashar Warda finds value in trip beyond the words of the pontiff.Perhaps more meaningful than any words spoken by Pope Francis during his three-day visit to Iraq was an an action he took.…

Reckless decisions to invade and nation build in other countries leads to more harm than good. by Bonnie Kristian Pope Francis just wrapped up a trip to Iraq this week for the first-ever papal visit to the country, a trip the Vatican has described as “an act of love for this land, for its people…

Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil on March 7th, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA MoreWashington D.C., Mar 8, 2021 / 10:00 am MT (CNA).- President Joe Biden stated his admiration for Pope Francis on Monday, after the pontiff’s four-day visit to Iraq.…

by Louis Raphael Sako*The Chaldean Patriarch expressed satisfaction with Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq, who is stronger than COVID-19 and terrorism. This event can bear fruit “in every respect”, from interfaith dialogue to the rebirth of the Christian community and the country. The…

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)– Pope Francis has visited Iraq to reassure the nation’s dwindling Christian community of his prayers after years of Islamic attacks and persecution.…

John Lavenburg national correspondentIn 2018 Monsignor Kieran Harrington, ecclesiastical assistant for Aid to the Church in Need, journeyed to Irbil, Telskuf, Qaraqosh, and Ankawa while on sabbatical. At that…

At the conclusion of his Apostolic Journey to Iraq, Pope Francis celebrates Sunday Mass with the Iraqi faithful in Erbil’s Franso Hariri Stadium. By Christopher Wells“Today, I can see at first hand that the Church in Iraq is alive, and that Christ is alive and at work in this, His holy and faithful people,” Pope…

By Catholic News Service BAGHDAD (CNS) — Pope Francis told Iraqi Christians that when they suffer discrimination, persecution or war, the Eight Beatitudes are addressed to them.…

The people of Qaraqosh – a northern Iraqi city that was controlled by the Islamic State group from 2014 to 2016 – were rebuilding their city as Pope Francis arrived Sunday as part of a four-day trip focused on supporting Iraq’s Christian community. FRANCE 24 reports.…

On his last full day in Iraq, Francis told Christians to forgive their oppressors, the better to put their energy toward restoring their country.Pope Francis listens to Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan, right, delivering his welcome speech during a meeting with the Qaraqosh community at the…