(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA))
BAGHDAD, March 5 (KUNA) -- Pope Francis on Friday embarked on the first-ever visit to Iraq by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, braving coronavirus concerns and shaky security conditions to support the protection of religious minorities.
"This is an emblematic trip and a duty towards a land that has been martyred for many years," the Pope said as he was welcomed to Baghdad International Airport by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in his first foreign trip in more than a year.
Interfaith harmony needs "genuine dialogue" to materialize, the octogenarian Pope said amid talks with Iraqi President Barham Salih, acknowledging the war-torn nationآ's "religious diversity" and the steps it has taken towards political and social reforms.
He went on to say that the presence of a Christian community in Iraq is a testament to its "rich history," adding that the countryآ's security and stability have long been among his core concerns.
Admiring the Pope's "insistence" to go through with the trip despite the enormous risk, Salih said his visit has become "all the more significant" and one that Iraqis will always cherish.
The Iraqi president underlined progress on an inatiative to form a national center that promotes interreligious dialogue, an important endeavor he said was needed in a region long plagued by religious strife and social conflict.
As part of a three-day visit that has garnered much fanfare, Pope Francis will meet with senior Iraqi leaders, in addition to priests and bishops, while he will also be saying Mass at a Baghdad church, according to the state news agency. (end)
ahh.nam
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