William Warda News Today

Janine di Giovanni made a tour of the shrinking Christian communities of the Middle East. In this extract from her new book, she charts the arrival of the Islamic State in Iraq in 2014

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BAGHDAD: In the sacristy of St. Joseph’s Chaldean Cathedral in Baghdad’s Karrada district, Rev. Nadhir Dako lets out a tired sigh. Not only has he and his team of volunteers been working hard to prepare for the arrival of Pope Francis, he is also weary of the growing hardship faced by Iraqis in general and the Christian community in particular. “There are no more than 150 families of faithful left” in his parish, Dako told Arab News. “All the others fled to Jordan, Turkey or Europe, a...

Published on: Tuesday, March 02, 2021 By: AFP Text Size: A sign welcoming Pope Francis hangs outside the Syriac Catholic Church of Mar Thoma (St Thomas), in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh (Baghdeda), in Nineveh province. BAGHDAD: Pope Francis is to start the first-ever papal visit to Iraq on Friday, an act of solidarity with an ancient but dwindling Christian community and a symbolic outreach to Muslims. The trip comes as Iraq, ravaged by decades of conflict, faces a second deadl...

published : 1 Mar 2021 at 09:45 The visit of Pope Francis will be the first ever papal trip to Iraq. BAGHDAD: Pope Francis is to start the first-ever papal visit to Iraq on Friday, an act of solidarity with an ancient but dwindling Christian community and a symbolic outreach to Muslims. The trip comes as Iraq, ravaged by decades of conflict, faces a second deadly wave of coronavirus infections and renewed violence. Persecution has already slashe...

In historic first, Pope Francis to visit Iraq By AFP - Mar 01,2021 - Last updated at Mar 01,2021 A member of the Iraqi forces stands next to a poster depicting an image of Pope Francis at the Syriac Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance in the Karrada district of Iraqs capital Baghdad on Monday amidst preparations ahead of the pontiffs visit (AFP photo) BAGHDAD — Pope Francis is to arrive Friday for the first-ever papal visit to conflict-torn Iraq, aiming to encourage the dwindling Chris...

Iraq's ancient Christian community, decimated by violence, fear

Iraq to get its first-ever papal visit with Pope Francis arrival on Friday World Mon, Mar 01, 2021 Roadside banners are erected welcoming Pope Francis in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh (Baghdeda), in Nineveh province, some 30 kilometres from Mosul on February 24, 2021, amidst preparations ahead of the popes March visit to Iraq. Photo: AFP Pope Francis will land on Friday morning in Baghdad with a security team and a cohort of 75 journalists Pope Francis trip comes as Iraq faces a...

Pope Francis trip comes as Iraq faces a second deadly wave of coronavirus infections and renewed violence

Nasser Banyameen speaks about his hometown of Qaraqosh in the historical heartland of Iraqi Christianity with nostalgia. Before Islamic State group fighters swe