In a campaign organized by Iraqi expatriates, Mr. Sistani and Pope Francis were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

[yota691]

Source: The Iraqi government is negotiating to stop the Dhi Qar demonstrations until after the Pope's visit

Political| 01:53 - 02/28/2021

 

 

 

 

 

Baghdad Mawazine News

An Iraqi political source revealed, on Sunday, that the government is conducting negotiations with demonstrators in Dhi Qar Governorate to stop the demonstrations until after the Pope's visit to the governorate.
The source said, according to "RT", that "the government is trying to convince the demonstrators of the need to calm the situation until after the visit of the Pope to Ziggurat Ur in the province."
He added, "The Iraqi government may decide to impose a complete curfew during the days of the Pope's visit."
Yesterday, our correspondent in Iraq reported that tension has returned to Dhi Qar Governorate, in the south of the country, after a day in which more than 100 people were wounded and killed.
The Pope is scheduled to start a four-day visit to Iraq on Friday to express his solidarity with the Christian community, which has been crushed by wars and the fighters of the "ISIS" organization. Ended 29 / A43

[gregp]

Good Morning Yota,

This is huge news. The HCL and budget negotiations, have been funneling down to the popes visit. 
This is the Grand Re-opening, or as MONEY once said, “The Big Dance.”

Rome will invest huge amounts of money into Iraq’s historical sites. 

 

[yota691]

Experts advise against pope's trip to Iraq amid pandemic

BY JUSTINE COLEMAN - 02/28/21 04:46 PM EST 17

 

 

© Getty Images

Health experts are speaking out to advise against Pope Francis’s scheduled trip to Iraq this week amid concerns that his presence in the country will likely draw crowds and risk spreading COVID-19.

The 84-year-old pope’s upcoming trip to the majority Muslim country, slated for March 5 to 8, is worrying infectious disease experts, who warn that Iraq’s fragile health care system may not be able to handle a large outbreak, The Associated Press reported. 

Pope Francis, as well as his entourage of 20 people and the dozens journalists on his plane, have all been vaccinated. But the experts said their unease revolved around the safety of the Iraqi people who are not vaccinated and would gather to see the pope.

 

Two Iraqi government officials told the AP that the trip’s organizers plan to ensure people wear masks, social distance and limit crowd sizes, with one official saying the COVID-19 requirements are “critical but can be managed.”

In the midst of the concerns, the Vatican’s ambassador to Iraq Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, who would have accompanied the pope during his trip, tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating. The embassy told the AP that his symptoms were mild.

 

The pope has previously said he will head to Iraq even if most residents need to watch him on their TVs, saying it’s essential “they will see that the pope is there in their country,” according to the Catholic News Service.  

The government in Iraq had declared a partial lockdown and curfew earlier this month as infections have increased, leading to closed schools and mosques.

Iraq has confirmed nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, leading to more than 13,400 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Recent studies indicate that most of the new COVID-19 infections in the country are from the more contagious strain first discovered in the U.K.

[yota691]

The Pope of the Vatican in Iraq..the stakes and fears

Monday 01st March 2021 88

 

Ibrahim Al-Abadi

 

The visit of the Pope of the High Catholics to Iraq is not a passing event, nor is it a religious-political project that transcends the Christian field into the depth of the Islamic field. The limits of its geographical sphere and its political situation, and the relationship of what has happened and is happening from the variables, with the relationship of major religions and the clash of civilizations in the world, and the position of religious leaders on that, as an investment of their moral and symbolic presence, in addition to what should be the message of values and human participations.

It is the first visit of the Pope of the Vatican, then, to this tormented part of the world, and he will be proud when he sets his feet on the rich land of civilizations, the habitat of religions and the center of the convergence of cultures. The Supreme Pontiff in his sermons, sermons, and visits the values of love and peace, but the launch and repetition of this call from the homeland of the Father of the Prophets Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and after decades of internal and external wars that destroyed urbanization and shattered mankind, they will have a special impact. On the impact of the aspirations of the aspirants and the intentions of the great planners, they clashed The world, with direct wars, authenticity and agency, and this piece of land became a place where modern man tested his mind, spirit and instincts, and aggression and destruction prevailed at the height of global progress, as if human civilization is providing evidence of human bankruptcy, absence of mind and ruin of the soul, peace of the world from the peace of Iraq, and security Earth and civilization Civilization depends on the harmony of religions, reconciliation of peoples, and the acceptance of a person with his different counterpart belonging to another cultural, religious and civilizational field.

Iraq has suffered a lot, and its civilizational receptacle, its long history, the experiences of its people and its embrace of religions could have had a great impact in building another path for contemporary life in this part of the world, but the narrow horizon and the predominance of fanaticism, the rule of extremism and the hegemony of violence, overthrew the other side of religion, the face that The human being gives meaning and bestows his life with usefulness, and normalizes human relationships in favor of a more peaceful life, fewer wars and better acquaintance.This has not happened before, and the land of Iraq has not witnessed manifestations of these meanings. Rather, the image of Iraq in the world is being drawn by the media and framed by daily events, which are events in which turmoil, tension, violence and distance from peace are common. The Yazidis, Shabaka, Turkmen, Sabeans and Muslims suffered from terrorism, violence, extermination and enslavement, so they preferred to emigrate and leave the homelands and suffer pain. Iraq, the moral and humanitarian moderate, after violence and terrorism seized that image and confiscated it for long years.

This is the message of the visit, and that is its limits. Optimists will not find much hope, and those who are afraid of the visit will not hear the echoes of what they were contemplating. Let (the profounders) reassure in the analysis messages that the geopolitical dimensions will not change with a visit that was postponed a long time ago, but that Iraq is the global beneficiary. The symbolism of the Pope’s presence will re-market (fragile Iraq) as a country that needs support, solidarity and support, and the reminder of the Iraqi plight will motivate more attention to the peace and prosperity of this country. If the center of the old world does not stabilize because of the intersection of interests, the war of identities and the overlapping of strategies, then when will the modern world succeed in Prove his material capabilities and activate his spiritual and symbolic powers to save this part from his internal evils and the external ambitions of others? 

From Ur, then, and from the south, heart and north of Iraq, the world will hear that these countries have what deserves a lot of attention and is long listened and grateful.

[yota691]

A delegation from the Prime Minister’s office arrives in Nasiriyah to follow up on preparations for the visit of the "Pope of the Vatican"

 

 

Monday - 03/01/2021 - 13:11

Nasiriyah News Network:
A delegation from the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi visited the city of Nasiriyah, today, Monday, to see the ongoing preparations to receive the "Pope of the Vatican".
According to an informed government source, the delegation met the governor of Dhi Qar, Abdul Ghani Al-Asadi, and a number of governorate officials.
The delegation is supposed to visit the archaeological site of Ur, where it will hold a world conference in the presence of the "Pope of the Vatican".
is over.

[yota691]

Stopping tourist trips to Ur in preparation for receiving the Pope

•  Time: 03/02/2021 12:05:54
•  
•  Read: 2,275 times

  

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) The Inspectorate of Dhi Qar Antiquities announced the suspension of tourist trips to the ancient city of Ur, in conjunction with the upcoming visit of the Pope of the Vatican to Iraq and the historic city.

Inspectorate Director Taher Quinn said in a press statement that "coinciding with the approaching visit of the Pope of the Vatican to the ancient city of Ur, all tourist trips to the city of Ur were suspended until further notice."
He added, "This procedure came with the proximity of the Pope's visit and the preparations made by the Inspectorate in cooperation with the departments for the purpose of completing all the requirements of the visit."
The director of the Nassiriya Museum of Civilization, Amer Abdel-Razzaq, announced today that the ancient city of Ur will be lit and ziggurat for the first time in history since its founding 4000 years ago, while the Ministry of Electricity spoke about the details of the arrival of electric power to the ancient city in preparation for the visit of the Pope of the Vatican.
Ammar Al-Masoudi
 

[yota691]

Title of thread change, Its March....

 

 

The first of its kind ever .. Iraq is awaiting a visit to the Pope and a historic meeting with the Supreme Authority

•  Time: 03/02/2021 22:11:18
•  
•  Read: 2,639 times

  

{International: Al Furat News} Iraq is preparing to receive Pope Francesco I, next Friday, on a visit that will last for several days, during which he travels between his provinces in the south, north and central.

This visit is the first ever papal visit to Iraq.
The Senior Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nizar Al-Khair Allah, confirmed that "the Pope's visit is historical and of great religious value. It will have a great impact on Iraq, support the Christians in the country and strengthen his communication with Muslims. He will deliver his main sermon from the historic city of Ur, the shrine of the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) in Dhi Qar governorate, in addition to his visit to Najaf and the meeting of the supreme religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Imam Sayed Ali al-Sistani.
Al-Khair God added that the Vatican requested that the Pope come with an Iraqi plane with the provision of Iraqi protection, "pointing out that" the Pope's visit to Najaf will be historic, and it has not been witnessed. " On the history of the scholarly religious seminary.
Pope Francesco hopes that his trip to Iraq will open a door with the Shiite Muslims, who number about 200 million around the world, such as his trip to Abu Dhabi in February 2019, and his meeting there with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and their signature of the so-called "Document of Human Fraternity", To encourage more dialogue between Christians and Muslims. 
The Pope’s program to Iraq also includes a visit to the capital, Baghdad, Nineveh, and the ancient city of Ur, the birthplace of the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).
The deputy and spokesman for the Iraqi coalition, Hussein Arab, points out that "the visit of the Pope of the Vatican to Iraq is an important one that strengthens dialogue and interfaith interfaiths," noting that "this kind of communication and breaking the security embargo on Iraq will leave positive impressions and effects on the country, through its impact on some countries." And decisions. "
Like Arabs, Aqeel al-Rudaini, spokesman for the Nasr Coalition headed by Haider al-Abadi, explained that "the Pope's visit to Iraq has many important messages and connotations, including that Iraq still represents regional and international importance in the world in terms of its historical depth and its promising future, because of the geographical and economic importance it represents in the world." This part of the world, if its material, scientific and human potential is optimally invested. "
Al-Rudaini added that the other indication of the visit is communication between peace-loving religions, as the Pope met with the Supreme Leader Sistani in the city of Najaf, considering it an opportunity to restore the relationship between religions, restore the rights and property of the displaced Christians in Iraq, and return them to their areas and homes from which they were displaced. During the control of ISIS terrorist over large parts of north and northwest Iraq, and the exercise of their normal lives through government support, as well as supporting the West by opening horizons for investment, reconstruction and reconstruction, and gaining the world's confidence in Iraq through this visit.
" The visit and this interest confirms that Iraq is in the circle of attention of the international community. The most important goal of the visit is to demand that all actors on the Iraqi scene need to preserve the remaining Christians in Iraq.
He added, "The visit in itself carries messages of reassurance to the Christian component in Iraq, and that it is the focus of the global Church and the Supreme Pontiff, and that they seek to achieve ways of stabilizing the areas inhabited by Christians after the damage they suffered at the level of individuals and society, as the number of Christians declined after 2003. To more than two-thirds of their number, which was approaching two million Iraqi citizens, and the successive governments did not care about their suffering by compensating them. "
It is noteworthy that the Pope canceled all his foreign trips as of June 2020 due to the outbreak of the Corona virus.
The Christians of Iraq are one of the world's oldest and most diverse Christian groups, with Chaldeans, Armenians, Orthodox, Protestants and other sects.

 

[yota691]

{You are a part of us, and we are a part of you} .. The saying of the Supreme Authority adorns a billboard to welcome the Pope

•  Time: 03/02/2021 22:21:00
•  
•  Read: 2,990 times

  

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) The Church of Our Lady of Deliverance in the Karrada district, in the center of the capital, Baghdad, raised a joint painting that brings together the supreme religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Vatican Pope Francis I.

And he wrote on the board the saying of Mr. Sistani, with which he addressed the Christians: "You are part of us and we are part of you."
Iraq is preparing to receive Pope Francesco I, next Friday, on a visit that will last for several days, during which he travels between his provinces to the south, north and central.
This visit is the first ever papal visit to Iraq, during which he will visit the holy city of Najaf and meet the supreme authority.

[southbeach]

2 hours ago, yota691 said:

Title of thread change, Its March....

 

 

The first of its kind ever .. Iraq is awaiting a visit to the Pope and a historic meeting with the Supreme Authority

•  Time: 03/02/2021 22:11:18
•  
•  Read: 2,639 times

  

{International: Al Furat News} Iraq is preparing to receive Pope Francesco I, next Friday, on a visit that will last for several days, during which he travels between his provinces in the south, north and central.

This visit is the first ever papal visit to Iraq.
The Senior Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nizar Al-Khair Allah, confirmed that "the Pope's visit is historical and of great religious value. It will have a great impact on Iraq, support system" rel="">support the Christians in the country and strengthen his communication with Muslims. He will deliver his main sermon from the historic city of Ur, the shrine of the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) in Dhi Qar governorate, in addition to his visit to Najaf and the meeting of the supreme religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Imam Sayed Ali al-Sistani.
Al-Khair God added that the Vatican requested that the Pope come with an Iraqi plane with the provision of Iraqi protection, "pointing out that" the Pope's visit to Najaf will be historic, and it has not been witnessed. " On the history of the scholarly religious seminary.
Pope Francesco hopes that his trip to Iraq will open a door with the Shiite Muslims, who number about 200 million around the world, such as his trip to Abu Dhabi in February 2019, and his meeting there with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and their signature of the so-called "Document of Human Fraternity", To encourage more dialogue between Christians and Muslims. 
The Pope’s program to Iraq also includes a visit to the capital, Baghdad, Nineveh, and the ancient city of Ur, the birthplace of the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).
The deputy and spokesman for the Iraqi coalition, Hussein Arab, points out that "the visit of the Pope of the Vatican to Iraq is an important one that strengthens dialogue and interfaith interfaiths," noting that "this kind of communication and breaking the security embargo on Iraq will leave positive impressions and effects on the country, through its impact on some countries." And decisions. "
Like Arabs, Aqeel al-Rudaini, spokesman for the Nasr Coalition headed by Haider al-Abadi, explained that "the Pope's visit to Iraq has many important messages and connotations, including that Iraq still represents regional and international importance in the world in terms of its historical depth and its promising future, because of the geographical and economic importance it represents in the world." This part of the world, if its material, scientific and human potential is optimally invested. "
Al-Rudaini added that the other indication of the visit is communication between peace-loving religions, as the Pope met with the Supreme Leader Sistani in the city of Najaf, considering it an opportunity to restore the relationship between religions, restore the rights and property of the displaced Christians in Iraq, and return them to their areas and homes from which they were displaced. During the control of ISIS terrorist over large parts of north and northwest Iraq, and the exercise of their normal lives through government support system" rel="">support, as well as supporting the West by opening horizons for investment, reconstruction and reconstruction, and gaining the world's confidence in Iraq through this visit.
" The visit and this interest confirms that Iraq is in the circle of attention of the international community. The most important goal of the visit is to demand that all actors on the Iraqi scene need to preserve the remaining Christians in Iraq.
He added, "The visit in itself carries messages of reassurance to the Christian component in Iraq, and that it is the focus of the global Church and the Supreme Pontiff, and that they seek to achieve ways of stabilizing the areas inhabited by Christians after the damage they suffered at the level of individuals and society, as the number of Christians declined after 2003. To more than two-thirds of their number, which was approaching two million Iraqi citizens, and the successive governments did not care about their suffering by compensating them. "
It is noteworthy that the Pope canceled all his foreign trips as of June 2020 due to the outbreak of the Corona virus.
The Christians of Iraq are one of the world's oldest and most diverse Christian groups, with Chaldeans, Armenians, Orthodox, Protestants and other sects.

 

Supreme Authority,? The Lord Jesus going to Baghdad?

[yota691]

Iraq announces its full readiness to receive the Pope of the Vatican

Tuesday 02nd March 2021 134

 

 

Baghdad: Shatha Al-Janabi Muhammad Ismail Al-Mosul: Shorouk Maher

 

Iraq has completed all preparations for receiving Pope Francis, who will arrive in Baghdad on the fifth of this March, on a historic visit, the first of its kind. 

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Hassan Nazim, said in a press conference attended by Al-Sabah: The visit "will include in its agenda, which will last for four days, several official meetings and visits to several religious and archaeological sites."

Nazem added, "The major stop, after Baghdad, is Najaf and the historic meeting with the supreme religious authority, Ali al-Sistani, as the Pope’s visit to Najaf, which is of great weight, represents the culmination of a global movement in the Islamic-Christian dialogue to enhance security and peace in our country," noting that "the last stop The Pope, during his visit to Iraq, will be in the cities of Mosul and Erbil, and he will continue his meetings and prayers for the victims who were killed at the hands of the terrorist organization ISIS.

He added that the schedule also includes the house of the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, in Ur, and regarding press coverage, he said: "The Cabinet recommended taking into account the requests of Arab and foreign media professionals to cover the visit, and we have received requests of up to a thousand to compete with their Iraqi colleagues, and this puts before us a great challenge to facilitate their mission."

For his part, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al-Sahaf, revealed that Pope Francis has a will to realize his visit to the country as scheduled on the fifth of this month. 

In the meantime, the Italian priest Father Mukhlis Shasha told Al-Sabah: "My visit to Iraq came as a prelude to the Pope's visit, as it included a number of provinces to see preparations for the churches of Baghdad, Nineveh and northern Iraq."

He added that "spiritual, civil and security preparations will take place, with prayers being held in the Italian language with the participation of an orchestra that includes more than 80 volunteers in special traditional attire, and hymns will be held in both Arabic and Syriac."  

Volunteers from civil organizations initiated the cleaning work of the Church of Our Lady of Deliverance in Baghdad and beautified it with pictures of the Pope, and decorated streets and buildings with Vatican flags, pictures of his holiness and welcoming slogans from all sects of the Iraqi people, while Karrada municipal departments continued work of beautification and decorating the streets to celebrate the visit.

Shasha stated that "the first visit will be to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance, which was subjected to a terrorist attack in 2010, and he will meet with Christian clerics, and he will also make an important visit to Najaf Governorate to meet the religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, to sign a document for the human brotherhood for peace." 

Global".

He added, "He will then go to the ancient city of Ur on a pilgrimage to the home of the Prophet of God Ibrahim, to hold the mass and pray with a speech among the attendees, after which he will visit Nineveh and perform the prayers in the monsters of allegiance to the victims of the war, then finish his visit to Al-Tahera Al-Kubra in the town of Baghdida, Karakosh In the Nineveh Plain, where he will recite the evangelization prayer, he will return to Erbil in preparation for the great public mass at the Francois Hariri Stadium in the city of Erbil, and the last stop of his visit is the Divine Liturgy at St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral in Baghdad to perform hymns and invocations calling for peace and rejecting disputes.

Nineveh governorate, for its part, which is an important station in the visit, announced its complete readiness to receive the Pope of the Vatican, and according to what its governor Najm al-Jubouri explained to "Al-Sabah", "the competent staff in the municipalities of Nineveh, opened several vital projects after the completion of their reconstruction in the Alqosh district, as it was opened." Internal and external streets, state parks and public parks yet 

Rehabilitate it. "

He stated that "after an expanded meeting with his administrative staff to discuss preparations for the Pope's upcoming visit, he declared the governorate fully prepared for this, after completing all preparations for the areas that he will visit, such as Old Mosul, Hosh Al-Baya, Nineveh Plain, Al-Tahera Church and Al-Qosh District."

[yota691]

The Pope of the Vatican confirms his visit to Iraq despite the missile attack on the Ain Al-Assad base

by Editor Iraq news 2 Hours ago

Pope Francis confirmed his visit to Iraq despite the missile attack that targeted the Ain Al-Assad base this morning, according to what was announced by Agence France-Presse.

Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Iraq next Friday for a three-day official visit, during which he will head to five Iraqi provinces.

According to the scheduled schedule, Pope Francis will visit Baghdad, Najaf, Dhi Qar, Erbil and Nineveh, and this trip is his first outside Italy since the start of the Corona pandemic.

[yota691]

Pope Francis reveals the "secret" of his visit to Iraq

l 21 minutes ago

Agencies - Abu Dhabi

•  

 

Iraq is preparing to receive Pope Francis.

Pope Francis confirmed, on Wednesday, that he is going to Iraq, because "people cannot be let down again," referring to the inability of the late Pope John Paul to go to him in 2000.

And Pope Francis , who is scheduled to go to Iraq, on Friday, appealed to pray and pray so that the visit would take place "in the best possible way and achieve the desired fruits."

The Pope did not address the security problems in Iraq, where, on Wednesday, no less than 10 missiles fell on an air base hosting American, Iraqi and other forces belonging to the international coalition, where a civilian was killed as a result of the bombing.

The Vatican defended Pope Francis' decision to proceed with his visit to Iraq, despite the high number of Corona cases there.

Pope Francis is visiting Iraq on his first trip outside the country since the start of the pandemic last year.

Planning for the visit began after the number of injuries decreased, but the number rose again last month, and infectious disease experts say that a papal visit to a country with a fragile health system is not a good idea at all.

[yota691]

Why is Pope Francis' visit to Iraq "historic"? Why did he insist on completing it?

The Pope in Iraq

2021-03-03 | 08:08

 

Source:

BBC Arabic

 

102 views

 

It is Pope Francis' first trip outside the Vatican since the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, and it is the first visit in history of the greatest pontiff to Iraq. However, not for these two reasons alone, the papal visit to Mesopotamia between 5 and 8 March this year is classified as "historic."

Many expected the Pope to cancel his trip, while others considered it a risk, with the outbreak of the epidemic, the two suicide bombings in Tayyar Square in central Baghdad last January, and the deaths during the security crackdown on protests in Dhi Qar Governorate a few days ago.

 

 

In addition, the announcement that the papal ambassador to Iraq, Mitja Lescovar, was infected with the Corona virus. He is one of the central figures in preparing for the visit at the diplomatic and logistical levels.

All this did not prompt the Vatican to postpone it, as it seems that Francis of Egypt will go to Rome airport next Friday morning, and go to Baghdad, and from there, during the following days, to Najaf, Ur, Erbil, Qaraqosh and Mosul.

What are the reasons for this insistence? And what makes this particular trip "historic", especially since there are many countries that no pope has visited yet, and it might have significant significance, such as Russia, China, and others?

 

An old Vatican dream

 

 

When his feet tread on the land of Iraq, Pope Francis fulfills an old dream of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who planned a similar visit in 2000, with the aim of pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, as part of his journey to the Holy Land, at the turn of the millennium.

However, the former Iraqi regime announced, at that time, that it was unable to organize the visit, due to the conditions of the siege that was imposed on the country.

Likewise, the Pope's intention sparked controversy at the time, as opponents of the former Ba'ath regime wrote a letter to the Supreme Pontiff, asking him "not to proceed in his endeavor to visit a country under a dictatorial rule."

After nearly twenty years, initiatives of Iraqi church figures succeeded in reviving the idea, and the Iraqi President, Barham Salih, issued an official invitation to the Pope to visit the country.

Tired messenger

 

 

 
Since taking office in 2013, Pope Francis' speech has been characterized by a high sensitivity towards the poor, the marginalized and the tired, it is the legacy of liberation theology in Latin America, and the bearer of the Jesuit monastic philosophy based on evangelization.

This trend emerged in practical steps, such as appointments to patriarchs and bishops of different nationalities and ethnicities, and such as expanding the scope of his visits outside the geography of European Catholicism. It is as if he is trying to prove that the church during his reign will not be that old institution with European exclusivity, but will try to address all religions and peoples.

In his visit to Iraq, some see that Francis is taking a new step towards establishing himself as a "messenger of the tired," not interested in meeting the world's strongest, but also to his weakness, and to present a message of embrace to peoples wounded under the weight of wars and divisions.

Moral support ... and more

 

 

The Christian communities in Iraq, from Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syriacs and others, are among the oldest Christian churches in the East and the world at all.

Although its roots lie in the history of Iraq since the first century, it has suffered from persecution for long periods, which led to the emigration of many Christians from their villages. That migration reached its peak after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and intensified after the rise of ISIS.

A personal visit of the size of the Pope of the Vatican to Iraq is a great moral message of support not only for the remaining Christians, but also for other minorities.

And because the Pope of the Vatican is not only a legal person, but rather a head of state, this visit has clear political dimensions, and it emphasizes the establishment of Iraqi Christians in particular, and Arabs in general, in their lands and countries, and as an essential part of the fabric of their societies, not as expatriates or visitors.

With the start of the wheel of reconstruction of the destroyed archaeological and historical churches in Mosul, Baghdad and elsewhere, Francis' visit may be reflected positively, in terms of motivating those interested to provide logistical and material support.

An outstretched hand

 

 

Francis’s visit to Iraq bears the slogan “You are all brothers” (from the Gospel of Matthew), and it is taken from the title of his most recent pontifical message, “We are all brothers,” issued in the fall of 2020. In it he writes: “Mutual assistance between nations benefits everyone in the end. A country that advances from its original cultural foundation is a treasure for all of humanity. We must develop awareness that today we are either all saved or no one will be saved. "

This letter is an extension of the document "The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Coexistence" that he signed with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi, in February 2019.

After his meeting with the Grand Imam of Sunni Islam, the Pope is preparing to meet Imam Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, in The first meeting that brings together any greatest pontiff, with a Shiite authority of this level.

Abraham's land

 

 

Because the image of Iraq in the media has become linked to wars, massacres and devastation, the Pope's visit comes as a reminder of the country's cultural, cultural and human value. Mesopotamia was not only the birthplace of many human sciences and innovations, but rather it was the first cradle of the religious idea of ancient civilizations.

The land of Iraq has a symbolic place in the beliefs of the followers of all monotheistic religions, through the belief that it was the cradle in the foundation for the creation of Adam and Eve. Likewise, Jews, Christians and Muslims are unanimous in believing the story of the Tower of Babel, and the good news of the Prophet Jonah or Jonah to the people of Nineveh, and before this and that, on the birth of the Prophet Abraham, in the plain of Ur, which the Pope is visiting.

The personality of Abraham is witnessing a resurgence around the world today, due to its unifying attribute, being the “father” of the heavenly messages, regardless of its followers. Therefore, the Pope’s visit to his hometown comes within the framework of his pursuit of what unites and not what divides.

[yota691]

Sorout: The Pope's meeting with Imam Sistani is a strong message to the world and gives an impression of the stability of Iraq

•  Time: 03/2021 21:25:43
•  
•  Read: 2,093 times

  

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) The representative of the Iraqi coalition, Abbas Sarout, described the meeting of the Vatican Pope Francis I with the supreme religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Al-Imam Al-Sistani (may his shadow) in Najaf as "a strong message for the year..and gives an impression to the stability of Iraq."

"The visit of the Pope of the Vatican represents an important pillar in the world and at the same time the presence of the religious authority of Imam al-Sistani (may his shadow) and his interest in world peace and the jihadist fatwa that saved Iraq and the world that he launched to fight and defeat ISIS terrorist," Sorout said.
He added, "Imam al-Sistani (may his shadow) and the Pope are two important poles in the Islamic and Christian worlds, and their meeting will be a strong message to the whole world that is peace and understanding between the divine religions."
And he stated that "the Pope's visit in this current circumstance that Iraq is going through and his insistence on visiting the Supreme Authority is a clear confirmation that the Najaf authority represents the Shiite and Islamic pole in the whole world."
He stressed, "It also gives an impression of the stability of the security situation in Iraq, the functioning of the state and the government, the principles of democracy and coexistence among the Iraqi people, who are far from sectarianism."
His Holiness is scheduled to leave Rome on Friday, the fifth of this March, from Rome's Fiumicino airport, to reach Baghdad International Airport, where the official reception will take place.
On Saturday, the sixth of this March, the Pope will head to Najaf, where he will meet the supreme religious authority, the Grand Ayatollah Imam Ali al-Sistani (may his shadow), and then he will go to the ancient city of Ur in the province of Dhi Qar; On the condition that the Sabbath afternoon celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baghdad.
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sacco, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world, announced today, Wednesday, that more than 100 Muslim personalities will organize in the prayers scheduled to be held by the Pope next Saturday in Iraq, stressing that there is no signature of a document between the Pope and the reference Mr. Sistani until Now, the meeting aims for interfaith dialogue and communication.
Wafa Al-Fatlawi

[yota691]

Tomorrow, the Pope of the Vatican makes a pilgrimage to the land of the prophets

Thursday 04 March 2021 49

 

  Baghdad: Muhammad Al-Ansari. Rome: Ali Al-Nuaimi

 

Iraq is preparing tomorrow, Friday, for the first time in its history to receive the Pope, His Holiness, Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican. The reception ceremonies for the great guest of Iraq will be held at Baghdad International Airport and at Baghdad Palace in the presence of the three presidencies according to the announced visit schedule, and the three-day visit includes the visit to Najaf and the meeting of the authority. The supreme religious leader, Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, will also visit the ancient city of Ur in Nasiriyah, the birthplace of the father of the prophets Ibrahim al-Khalil (peace be upon him), as well as the churches in Nineveh province.

Pope Francis confirmed yesterday, Wednesday, that he is going to Iraq, because “people cannot be let down again,” after his weekly teaching, calling on the faithful to pray for his Apostolic visit to Iraq.

The official “Vatican News” website quoted the Pope as saying: “He will go (on Friday) to Iraq for a three-day pilgrimage,” stressing that “for some time he had wanted to meet the people of Iraq, who suffered greatly, and to meet the church in the land of Abraham.” "He, along with other religious leaders, will take another step forward towards brotherhood among the believers."

His Holiness asked the believers to “accompany this apostolic visit with prayer so that it would be in the best way and bear the desired fruits.” He said: “The Iraqi people are waiting for us, and they were waiting for Saint John Paul II who was prevented from going there.” Then Pope Francis concluded: “It cannot be let down. The people for a second time, let us pray that this visit will be done well, ”referring to the prevention of the late Pope John Paul II from visiting Iraq in the year 2000 by the former president of the regime.                                                        

To that, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican City, confirmed that "Pope Francis will carry hope, dialogue and reconstruction to Iraq," indicating that "the Pope wants to send a message towards the future."

Meanwhile, a number of Italian citizens welcomed the historic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq, which will start tomorrow, Friday, stressing that the presence of the Great Pontiff in Mesopotamia and the source of civilizations and religions reflects the position of this great country, historically, religiously and geographically. 

Mrs. Daniela Dandria described to the “morning” correspondent in Rome, the Pope’s visit to Iraq as “an important event during this year, as it challenged the health and security conditions and fears of the Corona pandemic,” and added, “All Italians were surprised by the announcement of the date of Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq. And when the news spread in electronic newspapers and Italian stations, we awaited the first thing for the reaction of the Iraqi government, which greatly pleased us with the approval of the visit, and the high preparation for it in order to make this historic trip to the land of our master Ibrahim al-Khalil in the land of faith and religions a success.

She explained: “When our Italian channels, such as Rai News 24 and RAI, began broadcasting reports from Baghdad, Mosul and Najaf, we saw the great hospitality of Iraqis in their eyes and happiness overwhelmed them. The Catholic Church to their country ».

[yota691]

Before his visit ... the Pope of the Vatican sends a message to the Iraqis {video}

•  Time: 03/04/2021 00:01:31
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•  Read: 3,380 times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Before his visit ... the Pope of the Vatican sends a message to the Iraqis {video}

  

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) Late on Wednesday night, Pope Francis of the Vatican sent a message to the Iraqi people ahead of his upcoming visit to the country, calling on Christians to "accompany him to pray."

Pope Francis called on Christians in Iraq to "go forward and not allow the terrible suffering that you have endured and not surrender to the face of evil (referring to terrorism)."
The following is the text of Pope Francis’s message:
“Dear brothers and sisters in Iraq..Finally,
I will be among you in a few days. I long to meet you, to see your faces, and to visit your land, the cradle of the ancient and amazing civilization. Years of war and terror, and I ask God for the consolation of hearts and the healing of wounds. I offer you a pilgrim who longs for peace to repeat: “You are all brothers.” I meet with you a pilgrim who longs for peace, and I seek after brotherhood, and the desire drives me to pray together and walk together, and with brothers and sisters from other religious traditions as well Under the banner of our father Abraham, who gathers Muslims, Jews and Christians into one family.
Dear Christian brothers and sisters, who testified of your faith in Jesus in the midst of extremely cruel trials, I eagerly long to see you. I am honored to meet a Church marked by witness: Thank you for your testimony, may the many martyrs you have known help us persevere in the humble power of love. In your eyes are still images of destroyed homes and defiled churches, and in your hearts are the wounds of leaving loved ones and abandoning homes.
I would like to bring you the tender embrace of the whole Church, the one that is close to you and the suffering Middle East, and encourage you to move forward. Do not allow the terrible suffering that you have endured and that so hurts me to triumph. Do not give up in the face of the spread of evil, because the sources of ancient wisdom in your land direct us to take another path, to do the example of Abraham who, while abandoning everything, never lost hope, but rather put his trust in God and became the father of offspring equal to the number of stars in the sky.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us look at the stars, and in them we see what God has promised us.
Dear brothers and sisters, I have thought about you a lot all these years. You are the ones who suffered so much but were not disappointed. I thought of you Christians and Muslims, and among you you are the peoples, like the Yazidi people. I thought about the Yazidis, who suffered so much. We are all brothers, we are all.
And now I am attending your blessed and wounded land, a pilgrim whose hope is longing for me. From among you in Nineveh, the echo of Jonah's prophecy prevented the destruction of the city and carried a new hope, God’s hope. Let us fill in this hope that gives courage to rebuild and start over.
In this difficult period of pandemic, let us help each other, tighten the bonds of brotherhood, and together build a peaceful future. Together, brothers and sisters from different religious traditions. Thousands of years ago, Abraham began his journey, and today we have to continue this journey with the same spirit, and to seek peace together.
Therefore, I ask all of you the peace and blessing of God Most High, and I ask all of you to follow the example of Abraham, that is, to walk in hope and not to stop looking at the stars.
I ask all of you, please, to accompany me in your prayers. "

Wafa Al-Fatlawi

 

[yota691]

Why is Pope Francis visiting Iraq? | Behind the Story
4,278 views•Mar 2, 2021

 

America - The Jesuit Review

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 of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies joins America editor Ricardo da Silva, S.J., for a detailed look at what some people are calling the ‘papal visit of the century.’

[yota691]

Iraq: Pope's visit aims at 'supporting Christians, encourage them to stay' - Chaldean patriarch
299 views•Mar 3, 2021

 

 

 

 

lora bor
5 hours ago
Get ready for the one world religion, along with the one world govt

 

I ❤️ Florida/Warrior Cat Fan
5 hours ago
Corrupt

 

[yota691]

The Pope sends a message to the Iraqi people (video)

The Pope in Iraq

2021-03-03 | 18:29

 

 

 

13,163 Views

 

 

On Thursday, Pope Francis sent a message to the Iraqi people, on the sidelines of his upcoming visit to Iraq this week.

In the message, the Pope said, "I am honored to meet a Church that was distinguished by martyrdom, and to not give in to the spread of evil."

He added, "Despite your aid, you did not think of frustration, during the pandemic period, let us help each other," stressing, "Together, we are brothers with all religious sects in your country."

 

"The desire to pray and walk together is driven by you are all brothers. I have thought about all of you throughout these years," adding, "Let us fill us with hope for reconstruction and starting over."

[Laid Back]

“people cannot be let down again,"

                                                       The Pope.

 

Go God 🙏🏼

Go peace ☮️ 
Go RV 💰

Go purchasing power 💵💵💵

[Longtimelurker]

"Starting over" 🙏🙏🙏

[yota691]

An Iraqi official statement: All preparations for the Pope's visit have been completed

2021.03.04 - 15:40

 

 

Baghdad - People   

On Thursday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all preparations have been completed to receive Pope Francis.  

  

 

  

  

"All preparations for the Pope's visit have been completed through the organizing committee for the visit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahhaf said in a brief statement, which "people" received a copy of (March 4, 2021).   

[yota691]

A tweet from the Pope of the Vatican before heading to Iraq

2021.03.04 - 15:48

 

  

Baghdad - People   

The Pope of the Vatican tweeted, Thursday, on "Twitter", before heading to Iraq tomorrow.   

 

  

  

Pope Francis said in a blog posted on "People" (4 March 2021), "Tomorrow I will go to Iraq on a three-day pilgrimage."   

He added, "I have long wanted to meet this people who have suffered so much."   

He concluded by saying, "I ask you to accompany this apostolic visit with prayer, so that it takes place in the best possible way and bears the desired fruits."  

[umbertino]

Pope Francis heads to Iraq hoping landmark trip can ease Muslim-Christian tensions

 

“I long to meet you, see your faces, visit your land, ancient and extraordinary cradle of civilization,” Pope Francis said ahead of his visit

 

March 4, 2021, 11:38 AM CET

By Saphora Smith and Claudio Lavanga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vid

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pope-francis-heads-iraq-hoping-landmark-trip-can-ease-muslim-n1259440

[yota691]

Hours before his arrival ... these are the most prominent stations of the Pope's visit in Iraq

•  Time: 03/05/2021 00:46:15
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•  Read: 1,092 times

  

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) Pope Francis I will visit Iraq, Friday morning, in an unprecedented visit that includes a busy program that includes his travels to prominent sites in the country.

On Thursday, the Pope said - in a message to the Iraqis - that I will visit you as a "pilgrim who leads me peace" for "forgiveness and reconciliation after years of war and terror."
The Pope affirmed - in a video message addressed to the Iraqi people on the eve of his departure to Iraq - that I “bring you a repentant pilgrim in order to ask God for forgiveness and reconciliation after years of war and terror (..) I am bringing you a pilgrim who leads me to peace.”
 "Finally, I will be among you eager to meet you, to see your faces, and to visit your land, the cradle of the ancient and amazing civilization," he added.
He went on to say - addressing Christians who are still in Iraq - "images of destroyed homes and defiled churches are still in your eyes, and in your hearts are the wounds of leaving loved ones and abandoning homes."
Here are the five main sites he will visit in Iraq:

Baghdad, Peace
On his first day in the Iraqi capital, the Pope will deliver a speech at the "Lady of Deliverance" Catholic Church in the Karrada neighborhood.
Terrorists stormed the church on October 31, 2010, killing 44 worshipers, two priests and 7 security forces and taking hostages, in one of the most violent attacks on the Christian community in Iraq after 2003. 
The security forces were then able to end the detention process and kill all the militants in The process lasted two hours.
The church's stained glass windows now bear the names of the victims, the number of worshipers dwindling, while concrete walls surround the church, making access difficult.
Prior to the Pope's visit, an Iraqi artist painted a picture of the Pope on concrete walls alongside white doves representing peace and the colors of the Iraqi flag.

The holy city of Najaf
As part of his communication with Muslims, the Pope visits the city of Najaf, which dates back tens of centuries. It is the spiritual capital of most Muslims from the Twelver sectarian (Shiites) all over the world, as it includes the shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and
for a long time this city was under Ottoman rule until 1915, when it fell into the hands of the British, before they faced the revolution of the Hawza men.
In Najaf, the Pope will meet with the supreme religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Imam Ali al-Sistani, and the meeting will take place in the one-story house of the Supreme Authority, with most journalists barred from attending the meeting.
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sacco, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world, revealed accurate details of the meeting and said in a televised statement Thursday evening, that "the meeting will be held in the same office as the simple and humble Supreme Authority. 3 people will attend and it will be a personal meeting."
"There will be no statement after the meeting, and I expect happy results from it for all Iraqis," he added.
Sako pointed out that "the humility and asceticism of the Pope and Mr. Sistani canceled many of the luxury items in the visit program."

The birthplace of the Prophet Abraham
from the noble Najaf, the Pope moves to the ancient city of Ur in the province of Dhi Qar, and it dates back to pre-Christianity, and was founded in the 26th century before Christ, and became a major city in the ancient Sumerian Akkadian Empire.
Ur features a ziggurat, a sinuous pyramid-like structure that was exposed in the 1930s. 
Ur - which means "town" in the Sumerian language - is believed to be the place where the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) was born in the second millennium BC.
The Pope will hold ceremonies bringing together different religions with some of the smaller minorities in Iraq, including Yezidis and Sabeans.
For the first time in four thousand years, electricity reached the ziggurat as part of the government's preparations for the Pope’s visit, with some logistical work being done, such as providing the Internet and a platform for speeches and paving roads towards the ancient city.

Mosul and Qaraqosh The
northern province of Nineveh is the center of the Christian community in Iraq. The center of Mosul is the place in which the terrorist ISIS chose to announce the establishment of its defunct "caliphate" in the year 2014.
In Mosul, the Pope will visit the Al-Tahira Church in the west of the city that was destroyed by ISIS before the security forces defeated it. After a grinding war.
Records indicate that the church dates back to the 17th century, but some historians consider it to be a thousand years old.
During the fighting in 2017 the roof of the church collapsed, but the royal door stairway and the old side doors remained intact, and UNESCO is currently working on rehabilitating it and other parts of Mosul's heritage, including churches and mosques.
About 30 kilometers to the south, Qara Qosh, also known as Baghdeda or Hamdaniya, is located. It has a long history before Christianity, but its residents today speak a modern dialect of Aramaic, the language of Jesus (peace be upon him).

Erbil, the Sanctuary
On one of the last stops of his visit, the Pope holds an open-air mass in the city's stadium {Francois Hariri}.
When ISIS invaded northern Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Christians, Muslims and Yazidis sought refuge in the region, which was hosting minorities displaced by the sectarian violence that Iraq witnessed during the previous stages following the invasion.
Erbil includes traces of human settlements dating back to the 23rd century, and has become a major urban center throughout the Sumerian and Assyrian empires.
Its castle - a huge complex on top of a hill overlooking the city's market - was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

Ammar Al-Masoudi