{"id":22295,"date":"2021-03-05T19:36:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-06T00:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/a-lonely-voice-for-peace-francis-steps-into-a-war-zone-called-iraq\/"},"modified":"2021-03-05T19:36:39","modified_gmt":"2021-03-06T00:36:39","slug":"a-lonely-voice-for-peace-francis-steps-into-a-war-zone-called-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/a-lonely-voice-for-peace-francis-steps-into-a-war-zone-called-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"A lonely voice for peace: Francis steps into a war zone called Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Reading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pope Francis walks alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi as he arrives at Baghdad International Airport on 5 March 2021. Photo: CNS, Vatican Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To consolidate peace and ensure progress, the government and people of Iraq must never treat anyone as a second-class citizen and must work each day to promote harmony, Pope Francis said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFraternal coexistence calls for patient and honest dialogue, protected by justice and by respect for law,\u201d he said March 5, addressing Iraqi President Barham Salih, other government leaders and diplomats serving in Iraq.<\/p>\n

The appointment with civic and cultural leaders at the presidential palace in Baghdad came shortly after the pope landed in Iraq for his first foreign trip in 15 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

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Pope Francis and Iraqi President Barham Salih attend a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Baghdad on 5 March. Photo: CNS, Paul Haring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018It\u2019s my duty to be here\u2019<\/h3>\n

Although he, his entire entourage and the journalists traveling with him had all been vaccinated against the coronavirus, they all wore masks during the four-hour flight from Rome.<\/p>\n

Lowering his mask briefly to address reporters, he said he felt a \u201cduty\u201d to visit the Middle Eastern country, which had experienced so much death and turmoil since the 2003 invasion by a US-led coalition. He put his mask back on to make his way around the plane and personally greet each member of the media.<\/p>\n

The pope held a brief meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in a lounge at the Baghdad airport before heading into the city under tight security.<\/p>\n

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Official welcome<\/h3>\n

Outside the airport, in five or six large groups along the highway, hundreds of Iraqis waved Vatican or Iraqi flags as the pope passed. Forced to use a bullet-proof car, the pope rode to the presidential palace in a black BMW 750i; the sedan was flanked most of the way by security officials on motorcycles, but as the motorcade neared the palace, it was accompanied by officers on horseback.<\/p>\n

The president welcomed Pope Francis as a \u201cgreat and dear guest,\u201d expressing his gratitude that the pope made the trip \u201cdespite recommendations to postpone the visit because of the exceptional circumstances the world is going through because of the pandemic and despite the difficult conditions that our wounded nation is going through\u201d with sporadic waves of violence.<\/p>\n

Facing those dangers and visiting anyway \u201cin reality doubles the value of your visit in the eyes of Iraqis,\u201d the president told the pope.<\/p>\n

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Clearly happy to be in Iraq, Pope Francis attends a meeting with authorities, civil society leaders and members of the diplomatic corps in the hall of the presidential palace in Baghdad on 5 March. Photo: CNS, Paul Haring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I am a penitent\u2019<\/h3>\n

In his first speech of the trip, the pope outlined the themes expected to resonate throughout the March 5-8 visit: paying homage to the Christians martyred by Islamic militants over the past 20 years; insisting belief in one God, the father of all, means all people are brothers and sisters; encouraging a continued commitment to rebuilding the physical and social fabric of the country, including with international aid; and condemning all recourse to violence.<\/p>\n

Repeating a phrase he used in a video message to the Iraqi people on the eve of his visit, Pope Francis told the civic authorities, \u201cI come as a penitent, asking forgiveness of heaven and my brothers and sisters for so much destruction and cruelty. I come as a pilgrim of peace in the name of Christ, the prince of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay the clash of arms be silenced! May their spread be curbed, here and everywhere,\u201d the pope said. \u201cMay the voice of builders and peacemakers find a hearing! The voice of the humble, the poor, the ordinary men and women who want to live, work and pray in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In a private encounter Pope Francis and Iraqi President Barham Salih chat at the presidential palace in Baghdad on 5 March. Photo: CNS, Vatican Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Papal message: everyone must have a voice<\/h3>\n

\u201cMay there be an end to acts of violence and extremism, factions and intolerance,\u201d Pope Francis urged. \u201cMay room be made for all those citizens who seek to cooperate in building up this country through dialogue and through frank, sincere and constructive discussion \u2013 citizens committed to reconciliation and prepared, for the common good, to set aside their own interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pope Francis acknowledge how Iraqis have dedicated themselves to the difficult task of building a democracy. For further progress toward that goal, he said, \u201cit is essential to ensure the participation of all political, social and religious groups and to guarantee the fundamental rights of all citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, the country\u2019s dwindling Christian minority is not the only group that repeatedly has been denied its basic rights; Kurds, Yazidis and Mandaeans all have faced discrimination and even persecution. Under Saddam Hussein, even the Shiite Muslim majority was marginalised in many ways.<\/p>\n

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Pope Francis and Iraqi President Barham Salih attend a meeting with authorities, civil society leaders and members of the diplomatic corps in the hall of the presidential palace in Baghdad on 5 March. Photo: CNS, Paul Haring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Special concern for Christians<\/h3>\n

Even though he was speaking to secular leaders, Pope Francis could not fail to mention the special suffering of the Christian community, advocate for their rights and promise that they, too, would use their talents and skills to build up the nation.<\/p>\n

Condemning violence \u201cgrounded in a fundamentalism incapable of accepting the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic and religious groups,\u201d the pope urged Iraqis to strive to be a model of dialogue and harmony for the rest of the region.<\/p>\n

Salih told the pope that, too often in the modern world, \u201copposition and polarisation\u201d are the order of the day, and people, \u201cespecially in the East, are losing the habit of pluralism, diversity and accepting the opinion of the other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faith must serve humanity<\/h3>\n

Such an attitude, he said, \u201cincreases terrorism and the incitement to violence, hatred and committing atrocities with pretexts that have nothing to do with the tolerant spirit of the divine message. This threatens our entire future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pope Francis agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly if we learn to look beyond our differences and see each other as members of the same human family will we be able to begin an effective process of rebuilding and leave to future generations a better, more just and more humane world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Religion, he insisted, \u201cmust be at the service of peace and fraternity.\u201d<\/p>\n

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