Historic papal visit to Iraq

Pope Francis is set to make a four-day trip to Iraq, marking the first time that a pope has ever visited the country. It will be his first foreign visit since the coronavirus pandemic struck the world


POPE FRANCIS’ ITINERARY

1 Mar 5: Flies to Baghdad airport, greeted by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Official welcome ceremony at Presidential Palace, meets Iraqi President Barham Salih

Meeting with Catholic priests and nuns in Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad – site of 2010 massacre by Al Qaeda-linked gunmen that killed 58 people

2 Mar 6: Travels to Najaf, meets with Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite Muslim cleric

3 Flies to Nasiriyah. Hosts interfaith meeting in ancient city of Ur, birthplace of Abraham – prophet common to Muslims, Christians and Jews

1 Returns to Baghdad to celebrate mass at Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph

4 Mar 7: Departs for Irbil, meets with representatives of autonomous region of Kurdistan

5 Offers prayer in Mosul at memorial for victims of conflict in Iraq

6 Visits Qaraqosh, largest Christian town in Iraq where population fled when so-called Islamic State arrived in 2014

4 Celebrates mass at Irbil’s Franso Hariri Stadium before returning to Baghdad

1 Mar 8: Farewell ceremony at Baghdad airport


TURKEY
SYRIA 
JORDAN
IRAQ
SAUDI ARABIA
IRAN
KUWAIT

1 2 3 4 5 6

200km 125 miles


Sources: Associated Press, Vatican Publishing House 
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS