In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, looks forward to Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq and discusses its importance to the Church and to people in a long-suffering middle east country.
Le Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
Pope Francis’ first papal Apostle Expedition to Iraq is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 5th. During the four-day visit, the Pope will meet with Christian communities as well as civic and religious authorities.
This is the Holy Father’s first overseas trip in about fifteen months as the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on movement have made it a challenge for outside travel. It is also the first ever papal expedition to Iraq.
The Apostles’ journey begins on Friday morning as the Pope leaves Rome for Baghdad International Airport. There is a slate to visit several major cities including Mosul, Qaraqosh and Erbil.
As preparations go into high gear, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin released a video message clarifying the meaning of this historic trip for the Middle East country and its Christian communities.
A sign so close to the church
Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Parolin described the Pope’s visit as an indication of his “closeness to the Catholic Church” in the country and the declining Christian communities.
“We know that the Church has suffered a great deal,” said Cardinal Parolin. “He has lost many Christians who have left Iraq for other countries. “
The Church, therefore, needs the presence of the Holy Father “to be inspired and to continue in her mission to see Jesus Christ and the Gospel in the difficult situation in which she finds herself,” he said.
The presence of Christians in Iraq has declined dramatically in the last two decades. In 2003, before Saddam Hussein was ousted, there were approximately 1.4 million Christians in the country. However, thousands of Christians were killed and many more fled for their lives against violence and persecution under the occupation of the 2014 – 2017 Plain of Nineveh by the so-called Islamic State.
Encouraging regeneration efforts
Another positive aspect of the Pope’s visit, according to the Cardinal, is “encouraging the efforts that have begun to rebuild the country.
These efforts, he said, have been carried out on many fronts, and include fighting corruption and sectarianism, and ensuring that it is treated fairly. all – “giving him all the deserved places in the content of society regardless of their affiliation or religious class.”
Intersex conversation
The inter-regional significance of the Pope’s visit is also important.
As part of his visit, the Pope will travel to the holy city of Najaf to meet Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, an influential Muslim cleric
Pope Francis has been a staunch supporter of interfaith efforts. In February 2019, Cairo Pope and Grand Imam al-Azhar signed Ahmed al-Tayeb to a historic declaration of Fraternity in Abu Dhabi.
The Pope’s visit, Cardinal Parolin notes, will be an event of “interracial dialogue, co-operation, understanding and brutality between Christians and Muslims despite the good of the country and the brighter future. “