On Iraq visit, Pope Francis denies terrorism as a ‘betrayal of religion’

Pope Francis, who is on a four-day historic trip to Iraq on Saturday (local time) denied terrorism in the name of religion as a “religious betrayal” and called for friendship and cooperation between religions.

According to CNN, the Pope visited Ur on his second day of his first papal visit to Iraq, condemning the violence that has devastated the country in recent years and calling for friendship and cooperation between religions.

“All ethnic and religious communities have suffered. In particular, I would like to mention the Yazidi community, which has mourned the deaths of many men and seen thousands of women, girls and children evicted, sold as slaves, under physical violence and forced change, “he said.

“I think of the young Muslim volunteers of Mosul, who helped to repair churches and monasteries, build abominable alliances on the rubble of hatred, and those Christians and Muslims who are regenerating today. mosques and churches together, “the Pope noted.

Earlier in the day, the leader of the Catholic Church met with Shia Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy city of Najaf.

It is an important trip because it is the first ever papal expedition to Iraq, which is considered the land of Abraham.

According to CNN, the pontiff on Friday held meetings with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and President Barham Salih.

He also met with the clergy and other officials at a church in Baghdad, where the 2010 bloody massacre killed 51 congregations and two priests.

While welcoming the Pope, Iraqi President Barham Salih said: “Holy Father, we heal our wounds, and here you are, healing our wounds with us”.

The Pope said he saw himself as an “emigrant” when he visited Iraq.

“I come as a pen, asking forgiveness in heaven and my brothers and sisters for so much destruction and cruelty … I am coming as a pilgrim of peace in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace. we have prayed in those years for peace in Iraq, “he said.

The Pope sat on a throne under a tall collage of parish members who died in the terrorist attack, CNN reported.

“We are gathered in this cathedral of the Lady of Liberation, sanctified by the blood of our brothers and sisters who paid here the final price of their allegiance to the Lord and His Church,” said the pontiff.

It is important to note that it was previously predicted that the Pope would cancel his visit to Iraq among the surgeon in cases of coronavirus and recent new rocket attacks. However, it was reiterated that his tour would go according to schedule.

“For a while I have been meeting those people who have suffered so much … The people of Iraq are waiting for us. They were waiting for St. Pope John Paul II, who was not allowed to go , “he said while referring to the planned trip in 2000 which was postponed following a breakdown in talks between the Vatican and then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

According to CNN, Iraq has implemented a full curfew for a full four-day papal tour in an effort to reduce health and safety risks.

(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Industry Status staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from syndicated feeds.)

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