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Pope's historic Iraq visit - 10th March 2021

Pope Francis's historic visit to Iraq, his first foreign trip in 15 months, concluded on Sunday.

The head of the Catholic church has been unable to travel because of the pandemic. Iraq is currently experiencing a rise in Covid cases and an increase in terrorism. However, Francis wanted to make this trip as a gesture of love and support for Iraq and its people.

During the trip, the Pope met Iraq's top Shia Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Sistani. The meeting was a landmark in modern religious history. The two leaders hope to strengthen the relationship between Christianity and Islam. They agreed that Iraq's Christians should be able to live in peace.

Over the last 20 years, the Christian population in Iraq has fallen from 1.5 million to 250,000. On Sunday, the Pope visited the north of the country, where many had been killed or forced to leave by ISIS.

He prayed for the victims of war in the Al-Tahera Church. It is one of at least 14 churches which were destroyed by ISIS.

Pope Francis: "Today we raise our voices in prayer to Almighty God for all the victims of war and armed conflict. Here in Mosul, the tragic consequences of war and hostility are all too evident."

Before he left Iraq, Pope Francis celebrated mass with thousands of Christians in a sports stadium. He promised to keep Iraq in his heart.

Pope Francis: "Now the time draws near for my return to Rome. Yet Iraq will always remain with me, in my heart."