talented kids talented kids talented kids
  • 3Sports
  • Home
  • MG Radio
3news
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Showbiz
  • 3Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tilapia
  • MORE
    • Education
    • Features
    • Tech
    • Health
    • GMB
    • Mentor
    • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Showbiz
  • 3Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tilapia
  • MORE
    • Education
    • Features
    • Tech
    • Health
    • GMB
    • Mentor
    • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
3news
No Result
View All Result
Home Top World

Pope visits Iraq regions once held by IS group

March 7, 2021
Pope visits Iraq regions once held by IS group

Pope Francis was greeted upon arrival in Irbil

Pope Francis is visiting parts of northern Iraq that were held by Islamic State (IS) militants on the third day of his historic trip to the country.

date rush date rush date rush

IS seized the region in 2014, targeting Christians and other minorities. Christians have been returning since IS was defeated in 2017.

Later on Sunday the Pope will celebrate Mass at a football stadium in Irbil, with up to 10,000 attendees expected.

There are fears the ritual could become a coronavirus super-spreader event.

RelatedPosts

[Video] Pope Francis slaps pilgrim’s hand after she yanks his arm

January 1, 2020

Pope: God loves ‘even the worst of us’

December 25, 2019

Pope Francis declares wine is a necessity

July 15, 2019

Iraq has seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections over the past month.

The 84-year-old leader of the Catholic Church and his entourage have all been vaccinated, but Iraq only received its first batch of doses last week.

The four-day trip, which began on Friday, is the pontiff’s first international excursion since the start of the pandemic more than a year ago, and the first ever papal visit to the country.

Some Shia Muslim militant groups have reportedly opposed the visit, suggesting the tour amounts to Western interference in the country’s affairs.

Early on Sunday, the Pope was welcomed as he arrived in the northern city of Irbil by the head of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani.

Later, the pontiff is due to travel to Mosul – a former IS stronghold for three years – where he will say prayers in Church Square for the victims of the war with the Sunni Muslim militant group, which left tens of thousands of civilians dead.

He will then visit Iraq’s largest church, which was partly destroyed by IS, in nearby Qaraqosh, where Christians have returned since the group’s defeat.

About 10,000 Iraqi Security Forces personnel have been deployed to protect the Pope during his visit, while round-the-clock curfews have also been imposed to limit the spread of Covid.

What message is the Pope delivering?

Since arriving in Baghdad on Friday, Pope Francis has called for an end to violence and extremism and said that Iraq’s dwindling Christian community should have a more prominent role as citizens with full rights, freedoms and responsibilities.

“The age-old presence of Christians in this land, and their contributions to the life of the nation, constitute a rich heritage that they wish to continue to place at the service of all,” he said in his first speech in the country.

On Saturday, in a highly symbolic meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy city of Najaf, the Pope echoed this message, saying that Christians should be able to live in peace and security like all other Iraqis.

Audiences with the reclusive 90-year-old spiritual leader of millions of Shia Muslims are rare, but he received the Pope for around 50 minutes, the pair talking without face masks.

The Pope then visited the site of the ancient city of Ur, believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, who is revered in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In a message delivered there, he said: “We believers cannot be silent when terrorism abuses religion… let us not allow the light of heaven to be overshadowed by the clouds of hatred.”

Iraq has been wracked by religious and sectarian violence, both against minorities and between Shia and Sunni Muslims too.

Source: BBC

Previous Post

Akufo-Addo to host Black Satellites at Jubilee Hse

Next Post

May the fury not lead to implosion of NDC – Ablakwa prays

Related Posts

Featured Story

[Video] Pope Francis slaps pilgrim’s hand after she yanks his arm

January 1, 2020
Featured Story

Pope: God loves ‘even the worst of us’

December 25, 2019
Lifestyle

Pope Francis declares wine is a necessity

July 15, 2019
Lifestyle

Pope Francis declares wine is a necessity

July 15, 2019
World

Pope Francis receives credentials of eight ambassadors

May 23, 2019
World

Pope declares death penalty inadmissible in all cases

August 2, 2018
Next Post

May the fury not lead to implosion of NDC – Ablakwa prays

Discussion about this post

Stay Connected

  • 1.7M Fans
  • 229k Subscribers
Economic Dialogue Economic Dialogue Economic Dialogue
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Shatta Bundle in trouble for allegedly defiling girl after party in Bole

Shatta Bundle in trouble for allegedly defiling girl after party in Bole

April 5, 2021
[Photos] See certs of outstanding Rasta student rejected by Achimota School

[Photos] See certs of outstanding Rasta student rejected by Achimota School

March 23, 2021
Girl killed by police chasing ‘unlicensed’ vehicle

Girl killed by police chasing ‘unlicensed’ vehicle

April 5, 2021
Intervene because this is against your Free SHS – 1st yr dreadlocked Achimota ‘student’ to Akufo-Addo

Achimota PTA justifies selective application of school rules on Caucasians

March 23, 2021

Global Covid deaths pass three million

April 18, 2021
Abiana sees no competition in music industry for her

Abiana sees no competition in music industry for her

April 18, 2021
Messi stars in Copa del Rey final as Barca win first trophy under Koeman

Messi stars in Copa del Rey final as Barca win first trophy under Koeman

April 17, 2021
Chelsea end Man City’s quadruple hopes

Chelsea end Man City’s quadruple hopes

April 17, 2021

Recent News

Global Covid deaths pass three million

April 18, 2021
Abiana sees no competition in music industry for her

Abiana sees no competition in music industry for her

April 18, 2021
Messi stars in Copa del Rey final as Barca win first trophy under Koeman

Messi stars in Copa del Rey final as Barca win first trophy under Koeman

April 17, 2021
Chelsea end Man City’s quadruple hopes

Chelsea end Man City’s quadruple hopes

April 17, 2021
3news

3news.com is the fastest growing news portal in Ghana. Get all breaking news updates, latest news headlines, local and world stories, showbiz, lifestyle etc.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

Recent News

Global Covid deaths pass three million

April 18, 2021
Abiana sees no competition in music industry for her

Abiana sees no competition in music industry for her

April 18, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2021 Media General - Developed and managed by MG Digital.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Showbiz
  • 3Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tilapia
  • MORE
    • Education
    • Features
    • Tech
    • Health
    • GMB
    • Mentor
    • Coronavirus

© 2021 Media General - Developed and managed by MG Digital.