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By Beth Stibal |

Pope Francis is first Pontiff to visit Iraq

Francis
Iraqi security stand by a poster depicting Pope Francis, in Baghdad Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis heads to Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis is on the ground in Baghdad making his historic first visit to Iraq.
Francis is the first Pontiff to visit the Middle Eastern nation often called the cradle of civilization.
Undeterred by recent rocket attacks the Pope still went forward with his visit.
As he set off, a little-known Shiite militia group, the Guardians of Blood Brigade, declared a unilateral, temporary ceasefire to stay in effect during the pope’s four-day visit.

APTOPIX Iraq Pope
Pope Francis meets authorities and civil society at Baghdad’s Presidential Palace, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

He’s scheduled to meet with the President of Iraq, as well as Kurdish authorities and the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who is the highest authority of Shiite Muslims in Iraq.

As Pope Francis will meet with the dwindling Christian communities of Baghdad and other cities.
Iraqi Christians have been persecuted by terrorist groups over the past 20 years, from al-Qaeda to ISIS, causing many to flee to other countries.