Pope Francis is making history with his trip to Iraq. The apostolic visit will include a number of firsts: the first pope to visit the birthplace of Abraham, the first pope to celebrate Mass in the Chaldean rite and the first papal trip since the beginning of a global pandemic that is very much still ravaging the world.
Follow along with America for reporting, explainers, podcasts, videos and more that will unpack the significance of this historic visit. Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent, will be on the ground in Iraq following the pope as he zigzags across Iraq meeting civic and religious leaders and touring the Christian communities that are slowly recovering from the destruction wrought by the Islamic State. Bookmark this page, sign up for America’s newsletter and follow America on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Iraq.
Pope Francis’ visit will assure Iraqis they have not been forgotten
Christopher P. Clohessy
Pope Francis, by visiting a Shia majority country, completes his pastoral embrace of the Islamic world, begun two years ago with his trip to Abu Dhabi when he met with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb. Father Christopher Clohessy of the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies explains.
Why is Pope Francis visiting Iraq?
Behind the Story
Pope Francis’ long-awaited visit to Iraq is just days away, and despite the dangers of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pope still plans to go through with the trip. Why is this visit so important? Fr. Christopher Clohessy joins America editor Ricardo da Silva, S.J., for a detailed look at what some people are calling the ‘papal visit of the century.’
Interview: What to expect when Pope Francis makes his historic trip to Iraq
Gerard O’Connell
Cardinal Leonardi Sandri, the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Oriental Churches, visited Iraq in 2012 and 2015 and will accompany Francis on this first-ever visit by a pope to what the cardinal calls “a martyred land.” Cardinal Sandri explains the significance of the trip and what to expect from it.
Podcast: Covid spike and rocket attack complicate Pope Francis’ Iraq trip
Inside the Vatican
Following the discovery of the new UK-based strain of the novel coronavirus, Iraqi authorities closed businesses and places of worship, including those where the pope was expected to hold events during his visit. A rocket attack near the Erbil airport on Feb. 15 has also heightened security concerns, as the pope was expected to meet leaders from Iraqi Kurdistan at the airport.
‘Not a good idea:’ Infectious disease experts are worried about Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq
Nicole Winfield and Samya Kullab, Associated Press
Infectious disease experts are expressing concern about Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Iraq, given a sharp rise in coronavirus infections there, a fragile health care system and the unavoidable likelihood that Iraqis will crowd to see him.
Explainer: A brief history of the Christian sites Pope Francis will visit in Iraq
Dale Gavlak, Catholic News Service
The historically rich country is full of religious sites important to understanding the antecedents of the Christian faith, making the visit significant for Pope Francis. Here’s a snapshot of some of these places.