BAGHDAD — Pope Francis arrived in Iraq March 5 for a three-day visit aimed at encouraging the nation's historic but diminishing Christian community amid tight security measures and worries about how the trip may facilitate the spread of the coronavirus.
Descending from his plane at Baghdad's airport wearing a face mask, Francis was met by a low-key, relatively distanced greeting ceremony of a few dozen soldiers in red uniforms and white helmets.
But despite the Iraqi government's recent imposition of new lockdown measures because of a spike in coronavirus cases, non-distanced and non-masked crowds lined the pope's route towards the presidential palace at various points.
In a speech to the country's political authorities at the palace, Francis said he had come to Iraq as a "penitent" to beg heavenly forgiveness for the "destruction and cruelty" the country had experienced in the years since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and the rise and fall of the brutal ISIS regime.
Speaking to Iraqi President Barham Salih, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and about 150 other politicians, diplomats and civil servants, the pontiff made impassioned and repeated pleas that the country might avert further conflict.
"May the clash of arms be silenced!" exhorted Francis. "May their spread be curbed, here and everywhere!
"May the voice of builders and peacemakers find a hearing!" said the pope. "The voice of the humble, the poor, the ordinary men and women who want to live, work and pray in peace."
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