Pope Francis dismisses uncertainty over upcoming Iraq trip
Francis' visit to the country next month will mark the first time a pope has visited Iraq.
Pope Francis says he is determined to travel to Iraq next month despite coronavirus limitations in what will be the first-ever papal visit to the Middle East country.
Even if social distancing requirements prevent Iraqi Christians from seeing him in person, “They will see that the pope is there in their country,” Francis told Catholic News Service.
“I am the pastor of people who are suffering,” he said, adding that he would consider taking a regular commercial flight to Iraq.
The 84-year-old pope’s trip to Iraq will mark the first time he's traveled abroad since visiting Japan and Thailand in November 2019. Francis, who was forced to cancel his other trips amid the pandemic, will "take into consideration the evolution of the worldwide health emergency” upon traveling to Iraq, his office said.
