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Added on the 25/02/2021 13:00:00 - Copyright : EFE Inglés
Iraqi President Barham Salih bids farewell to Pope Francis at Baghdad airport as he heads back to Rome at the end of his historic trip to war-torn Iraq meant to encourage the country's dwindling Christian community and deepen interfaith dialogue. IMAGES
Pope Francis arrives at the Chaldean Cathedral of "Saint Joseph" in Baghdad to hold a holy mass. IMAGES
Baghdad, Mar 5 (EFE), (Camera: Murtaja Lateef).- Pope Francis arrived in Baghdad on Friday for the first ever papal visit to Iraq, and his first trip abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.He will meet members of the country’s Christian minority community which was persecuted by the Islamic State that occupied parts of Iraq for three years until the terror group was defeated in late 2017.Sectarian violence in the war-torn country has seen Iraq’s Christian population fall from 1.5 million in 2003 to just 300,000.FOOTAGE OF SECURITY MEASURES IN BAGHDAD AHEAD OF POPE FRANCIS' ARRIVAL.
Baghdad (Iraq), March 5 (EFE / EPA) .- (CAMERA: Ahmed Jalil) The pope arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit because it was "his duty" to travel "to this martyred land," as he said during the flight.
Pope Francis shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi upon his arrive in Baghdad. IMAGES TO COMPLETE VIDI94C2CB_EN