Por qué se dice que el viaje del papa Francisco a Irak es arriesgado - Medio Oriente - Internacional eltiempo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eltiempo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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By Cindy Wooden
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing security concerns, Pope Francis is determined to visit Iraq to pay homage to Christian and other minorities persecuted for their faith and to strengthen the commitment of the overwhelming majority of Iraqi Muslims to creating a future of peace and harmony.
As a pilgrim March 5-8, he will visit churches that were destroyed by militants of the Islamic State group, and as a global religious leader, he will hold an interreligious meeting near the ancient city of Ur, birthplace of Abraham.
“Pope Francis is truly a father because he really wants all human beings to be united not only Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants but he is broadening his embrace to include the Islamic world,” said Shahrzad Houshmand Zadeh, a Shiite Muslim theologian who has taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Iraq trip is opportunity for pope to build rapport with Shiite Muslims cruxnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cruxnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.