Pope Francis' visit to Iraq

Mar 10, 2021

Pope Francis' visit to Iraq

By Father Kevin O'Neill - Essendon

 

Pope Francis made a historic visit to Iraq - Photo:bigstock.com

From March 5th to 8th, 2021, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Iraq, the first-ever Papal visit to this nation. 

On Saturday, March 6th, Pope Francis appealed for harmony among the followers of the world’s major monotheistic religions at an interreligious meeting in the Plain of Ur, southern Iraq. Speaking at the ancient site, believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, the Pope emphasized the shared heritage of Christians, Muslims, and Jews. 

God is merciful has been a key theme of Pope Francis’ Papacy. From the beginning of his Papacy Pope Francis has stressed the unconditional, merciful love of God. During the interreligious meeting Pope Francis highlighted God’s mercy once again in saying: “From this place, where faith was born, from the land of our father Abraham, let us affirm that God is merciful, and that the greatest blasphemy is to profane his name by hating our brothers and sisters.”

Pope Francis then spoke, focusing on the importance of fraternity among the descendants of Abraham: “Today we, Jews, Christians and Muslims, together with our brothers and sisters of other religions, honour our father Abraham by doing as he did: we look up to heaven and we journey on earth.”

Pope Francis went on to say: “Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war.”

The Pope continued: “There will be no peace unless peoples extend a hand to other peoples. There will be no peace as long as we see others as them and not us. There will be no peace as long as our alliances are, for alliances of some against others only increase divisions.” 

Pope Francis said that people who believe in God have “no enemies to fight” apart from the “enemy that stands at the door of the heart and knocks to enter.” “That enemy is hatred,” he said. He added: “It is up to us, today’s humanity, especially those of us, believers of all religions, to turn instruments of hatred into instruments of peace. It is up to us to appeal firmly to the leaders of nations to make the increasing proliferation of arms give way to the distribution of food for all.” 

Iraqi people of different faiths welcomed Pope Francis - photo:istock.com

At the end of the interreligious meeting, the Pope gathered in prayer together with those present; Muslims, Jews, representatives of Iraq’s Christian Churches, and members of Iraqi religious minorities, including the Yazidis and Sabaeans who, with one voice, invoked the God of peace, reconciliation, and strength to rebuild the conflict-ravaged nation. Those present recited a “Prayer of the Children of Abraham.” 

On Sunday, March 7th, Pope Francis visited Mosul and Qaraqosh in northern Iraq. Amid the rubble and bombed out remains of four churches destroyed by the Islamic State militants in Mosul, Pope Francis urged the Christians to live up to their faith and honour the sacrifice of those who died by promoting peace and reconciliation. His message was clear: 

“If God is the God of life – for so he is – then it is wrong for us to kill our brothers and sisters in his name.”

“If God is the God of peace – for so he is – then it is wrong for us to wage war in his name.”

“If God is the God of love – for so he is – then it is wrong for us to hate our brothers and sisters.” 

Pope Francis went on to say: “Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war.” 

The Pope encouraged Iraqi Christians to “not lose hope,” urging them to “never tire of asking the saints for their intercession.”

“Let us pray tirelessly for the conversion of hearts and the triumph of a culture of life, reconciliation and fraternal love between all men and women, with respect for differences and diverse religious traditions, in the effort to build a future of unity and cooperation between all people of goodwill,” he said.

Columban Fr Kevin O'Neill is currently on the Peace, Ecology and Justice (PEJ) Team at St Columban's, Essendon.