SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Pope Francis on Friday hailed Iraq as a “cradle of civilization” on his first day of a “long-awaited” trip to the country aiming to encourage its dwindling Christians and deepen dialogue with its Muslims.
An Alitalia plane carrying Francis, his entourage, a security detail, and about 75 journalists, touched down at Baghdad International Airport where he was welcomed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
Iraq is deploying thousands of additional security personnel to protect the 84-year-old pope during the visit, which comes after a spate of rocket and suicide bomb attacks raised fears for his safety.
A motorcade of dozens of vehicles accompanied Francis out of the airport compound, which has recently come under rocket fire from militia groups.
Francis, who normally insists on using simple and small cars on his trips, was driven to the presidential palace in a bullet-proof BMW sedan, according to security officials.
As he and Iraqi President Barham Salih walked together, Francis limped noticeably, indicating that his sciatica may have flared up again. The condition forced him to cancel several events earlier this year.
“Iraqis feel proud of your Holiness, as you are among them a cherished, gracious guest despite the difficult circumstances our country is going through,” said Salih.
Francis said in his address at Iraq’s presidential palace that there must be an “end to acts of violence and extremism, factions and intolerance”.
He also called for Christians to have a more prominent role in public life in Iraq, “as citizens with full rights, freedoms and responsibilities”.
The pope further said authorities must “combat the scourge of corruption, misuse of power and disregard for law.”
He added that the minority Yazidis were victims of violent “atrocities” at the hands of Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
Francis will meet clergy at a Baghdad church where Islamist gunmen killed more than 50 worshippers in 2010. Violence against Iraq’s minority religious groups, especially when a third of the country was being run by Islamic State, has reduced its ancient Christian community to a fifth of its once 1.5 million people.
The pontiff will also visit Ur, birthplace of the prophet Abraham, who is revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews, and meet Iraq’s revered top Shia Muslim cleric, 90-year-old Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
The meeting with Sistani, who wields great influence over Iraq’s Shia majority and in the country’s politics, will be the first by a pope.
He will visit the Kurdistan Region on Sunday and say a pray at Erbil stadium. The pope will also visit Qaraqosh in the plain of Nineveh.
