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Published date: 3 March 2021 13:14 UTC | Last update: 1 month ago In the Christian-majority, northern Iraqi town of Qaraqosh, a community uprooted by the Islamic State (IS) group in 2014 is now preparing for an event that, just a few years ago, seemed unimaginable: a visit by His Holiness Pope Francis. When IS entered Qaraqosh, which lies 30km from Mosul, the town s entire population - save two elderly ladies - fled to neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan, leaving militants to a campaign of looting and destruction. Churches were desecrated, steeples toppled, statues smashed; Christian homes were looted and set ablaze. After liberation by Iraqi forces in 2016, IS graffiti marred walls across the ruined and deserted town, while a church hall used as an IS bomb-making facility was still full of chemicals, explosive components and IS stencils.

City ofUnited kingdomBashar wardaEsa saqatImmaculate conceptionTom westcottReema rafedSinan wadeea eskanderAli al sistaniErbil bashar wardaA shia muslimHassan nadhemSteven raschePope francisMother of salvation churchIslamic state