The Pope closed his historic visit to Iraq with a …

Pope Francis concluded his historic visit to Iraq with a mass in front of thousands of worshipers in the jihadist-ravaged north, calling on Christians “not to be discouraged” and “to resist the temptation of revenge”.. After praying for the “victims of war” in the rubble of Mosul, the former capital of the Islamic State (IS), Francis celebrated the highest mass of his trip in the city of Erbil and under security measures strict.

Ignoring warnings for rising coronavirus cases and escalating attacks in recent weeks, the Pope has shut down the first visit of a pontiff in the history of the country with a call for a “reconstruction” which takes into account minorities, in particular the decimated Christian population. François must leave Iraq for Rome this Monday morning.

“Iraq will always be with me, in my heart”said the Pope after the ceremony in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. “I heard voices of pain and anguish, but also voices of hope and comfort”, he affirmed in front of thousands of faithful. During his tour of Erbil, Francisco crossed paths with the father of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy who drowned while trying to get to Turkey by boat in 2015 to escape the war. Abdullah Kurdi was grateful for the Pope’s words “and his closeness also to all migrants who seek peace and security leaving their country at the risk of their lives”.

The 84-year-old pontiff also stood in the “popemobile” in front of thousands of worshipers on the grass and in the stands of the Franso Hariri stadium. Vatican bodyguards and security forces were on alert for the mass in the stadium named after a Christian politician murdered 20 years ago. On Sunday, unlike the previous days, Francisco managed to get closer to the crowd. He did so first in Mosul, where he lamented the exile of Eastern Christians from a platform built among the ruins of a local church.

The the Pope, who has difficulty walking with sciatica, took a golf cart ride. “It’s the best day!” Hala Raad exclaimed, who watched her pass. “Now we hope to be safe, that’s the most important thing,” said the Christian who fled Mosul during the jihadists’ eruption and only returns for short visits.

So In Qaraqosh, place of Christian martyrs halfway between Mosul and Erbil, the pontiff called on the crowd to “rebuild” and “not to be discouraged”. Remember the image of the Virgin during her speech, the Pope took the opportunity to express his concern about the situation of women. “I want to warmly thank all the mothers and women in this country who continue to give birth despite abuse and injury. May they be respected and defended!She asked on the eve of International Women’s Day.

In this way, Francis concludes his trip to Iraq, where he experienced historical moments such as the meeting he had with Ayatollah Ali-al Sistani, the highest religious authority of the Shiites, and the visit to Ur des Chaldeans, where tradition indicates that the prophet Abraham.