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geemong · Super member Geregistreerd op: 01 Feb 2021 Berichten: 45

Pope Francis visits regions of Iraq once held by Islamic State

Pope Francis is ดาวน์โหลด slotxo visiting parts of northern Iraq that were held by Islamic State (IS) militants on the third day of his historic
trip to the country.

IS seized the region in 2014, targeting Christians and other minorities. Christians have been returning since IS was defeated in 2017.

Later on Sunday the Pope will celebrate Mass at a football stadium in Irbil, with up to 10,000 attendees expected.

There are fears the ritual could become a coronavirus super-spreader event.

Iraq has seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections over the past month.

The 84-year-old leader of the Catholic Church and his entourage have all been vaccinated, but Iraq only received its first batch of doses
last week.

The four-day trip, which began on Friday, is the pontiff's first international excursion since the start of the pandemic more than a year
ago, and the first ever papal visit to the country.

Some Shia Muslim militant groups have reportedly opposed the visit, suggesting the tour amounts to Western interference in
the country's affairs.

Early on Sunday, the Pope was welcomed as he arrived in the northern city of Irbil by the head of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Nechirvan
Barzani.