Pope Francis touched down on Friday for a historic visit to Iraq where he will 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 to make his first-ever papal visit.
The pope, who wore a face mask during the flight, kept it on as he descended the stairs to the tarmac and was greeted by two masked children in traditional dress. He was visibly limping in a sign his sciatica, which has flared and forced him to cancel events recently, was possibly bothering him.
He has a packed schedule during his four-day visit, meeting officials, Christians and the Iraqi people in the capital, the south and the north.
After spending Friday afternoon meeting officials at the Presidential Palace, he will spend the evening at the Lady of Salvation church – the site of a deadly terror attack in 2010.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Iraqis were eager to welcome Francis’ “message of peace and tolerance” and described the visit as a historic meeting between the “minaret and the bells”.
Among the highlights of the Pope's visit is a private meeting Saturday with the country's top Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, a revered figure in Iraq and beyond.
Follow live coverage here
Mosul prepares for Pope Francis
Pope Francis holds a minute of silence at the destroyed cathedral in Mosul's old city. Reuters
Pope Francis rides in a golf cart at the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Pope Francis, surrounded by religious dignitaries at a square near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Pope Francis releasing a white dove at a square near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Pope Francis arrives to pray for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City. Reuters
A photojournalist uses his camera from atop a broken wall near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Pope Francis arrives to pray for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's old city, Iraq. Reuters
Iraqi children dressed in costumes wave national flags in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Girls wave national flags as they gather at Church square ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to visit Mosul. Reuters
A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard as children dressed in costumes wave national flags in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Iraqi children dressed in costumes are pictured in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul get ready to welcome Pope Francis. AFP
Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul get ready to welcome Pope Francis. AFP
Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul get ready to welcome Pope Francis. AFP
People prepare before Pope Francis arrives to hold a mass at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square. Reuters
Iraqi soldiers keep watch before the prayer by Pope Francis for the victims of the war in Mosul. EPA
Iraqis gather in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Preparations are under way at the ruins of Al Tahera Church in the Iraq's northern city of Mosul, a day before the arrival of the Pope. AFP
Pope Francis will say prayers for victims of ISIS and war at Al Tahera Church in Mosul’s Church Square, which is surrounded by several places of worship used by Iraq’s different Christian denominations. AFP
An aerial view of seating arrangements are being made at the ruins of Al Tahera Church. AFP
Syriac Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Chaldean Catholic churches can be found in and around the small square that is locked in by low-rise houses in Mosul’s Old City. AFP
Organisers lay seats at the ruins of Al Tahera Church in the Old City of Mosul in northern Iraq. AFP
Al Tahera is a symbol of the diversity that has been the story of Mosul for centuries and represents Iraq’s once-flourishing Christian community. AFP
Men walk past a poster of Pope Francis hanging above a ruined building in the Old City of Mosul. AFP
Christians who fled from Mosul after the ISIS rampage have been hesitant to return because of the post-war situation as well as a lack of trust in the government to provide them with the protection they need. AFP
Pope Francis holds interfaith meeting in Ur
An aerial photo shows the 6,000-year-old archaeological site of Ur amid preparations for Pope Francis' visit near Nasiriyah. AP Photo
Pope Francis arrives in a limousine to hold inter-religious prayer at the ancient archeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters
Pope Francis is received at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq's Dhi Qar province. AFP
Pope Francis arrives to hold inter-religious prayer at the ancient archeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters
Pope Francis attends a interreligious meeting at the Plain of Ur, Nassirya. EPA
Pope Francis arrives to hold inter-religious prayer at the ancient archeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters
Pope Francis arrives at an interreligious meeting near the archaeological area of the Sumerian city-state of Ur, 20 kilometers south-west of Nasiriyah. AP Photo
Pope Francis attends the inter-religious prayer at the ancient archeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters
Pope Francis attends the inter-religious prayer at the ancient archeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters
Pope Francis smiles and waves at a women that threw a kiss to him. Haider Husseini/ The National
Pope Francis meets Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani
Pope Francis meeting top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani in the Iraqi shine city of Najaf. HO / Vatican News
Gifts for Pope Francis
Pope Francis receives an ornamental gift after his sermon at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP
Pope Francis receives gifts from Iraqi President Barham Salih, two stone carvings by the late Iraqi artist Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, and a hand embroidered cross in gold thread and semi precious stones with a head cap from Kurdistan. Office of the President
Iraqi President Barham Salih and his wife Sarbagh show Pope Francis one of the presidential gifts. AFP
Four of the 14 pieces of "The Way of Suffering", sculpted plaques representing the stations of the cross by late Iraqi artist Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, are displayed at the Chaldean Catholic Church of the Ascension. Hikmat's son Yasser made a miniature of the fourth station stele which will be presented as a gift to Pope Francis. SFP
Iraqi artist Yasser Hikmat, son of sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat works on the piece at a workshop in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
Yasser's work is a miniature of one of his late father's 14 sculptures. AFP
Yasser Hikmat displays a finished piece at a workshop in Beirut. AFP
Iraqi priest Ammar Yaqo looks on as Karjiya Baqtar embroiders a precious prayer shawl using golden thread, to gift to Pope Francis during his upcoming visit to her Iraqi hometown Qaraqosh. AFP
Pope Francis at Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad
Pope Francis delivers his speech during a meeting with bishops and priests, at the Our Lady of Salvation Church, in Baghdad. AP Photo
Our Lady of Salvation Church, a Syriac Catholic Church, was the scene of a deadly Al Qaeda attack that occurred within the church's walls 11 years ago. AFP
People listen as Pope Francis speaks during a visit to the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
Forty-eight were killed, including two priests, in an October 31, 2010 attack claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq, an offshoot of Al Qaeda. AFP
"We are gathered in this Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation, hallowed by the blood of our brothers and sisters who here paid the ultimate price for their fidelity to the Lord and his church," said the Pope. AFP
Pope Francis was joined by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and head of the Chaldean Catholic Church. AP Photo
Pope Francis walks through the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
Pope Francis receives flowers are he arrives at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Reuters
A motorcade carrying Pope Francis arrives at Our Lady of Salvation Church. EPA
Pope Francis at Iraqi Presidential Palace
Pope Francis arrives at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi President Barham Salih welcomes Pope Francis during an official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. EPA
Pope Francis delivers a speech at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. Reuters
Pope Francis addresses Iraqi officials at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. AFP
Pope Francis is welcomed by Iraqi President Barham Salih at the Presidential Palace. AFP
Pope Francis and Iraqi President Barham Salih enter the Presidential Palace during the first papal visit to Iraq. AFP
Iraqi President Barham Salih and Pope Francis meet at the Presidential Palace. Reuters
Pope Francis shakes hands with Iraqi President Barham Salih at the Presidential Palace. AFP
Iraqi President Barham Salih and Pope Francis talk during a meeting at the Presidential Palace. Reuters
Iraq prime minister greets Pope Francis in Baghdad
The Pope is welcomed by Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq
Pope Francis smiles with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq
Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad on his first visit to Iraq. Pope Francis began his historic trip to war-scarred Iraq, defying security concerns and the coronavirus pandemic to comfort one of the world's oldest and most persecuted Christian communities.
Pope Francis is received by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi upon disembarking from his plane at Baghdad International Airport to start his historic tour in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
Pope Francis disembarks a plane as he arrives at Baghdad International Airport. Reuters
Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad on his first visit to Iraq. Pope Francis began his historic trip to war-scarred Iraq, defying security concerns and the coronavirus pandemic to comfort one of the world's oldest and most persecuted Christian communities.
Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad. Reuters
Pope Francis arrives in Baghdad on his first visit to Iraq. Pope Francis began his historic trip to war-scarred Iraq, defying security concerns and the coronavirus pandemic to comfort one of the world's oldest and most persecuted Christian communities.
Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the aeroplane heading to Iraq. AP Photo
A plane carrying Pope Francis arrives at Baghdad International Airport to start his historic tour ofIraq. Reuters
Pope Francis leaves Rome
Members of the media wait for Pope Francis ahead of his arrival to board a plane for his visit to Iraq, at the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters
Pope Francis prepares to leave from Fiumicino's International airport Leonardo da Vinci, near Rome, for Baghdad, Iraq. Pope Francis is bound to Iraq for a four-day visit 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 to make the first-ever papal visit. AP Photo
Pope Francis boards his plane as he leaves from Fiumicino's International airport Leonardo da Vinci, near Rome, for Baghdad, Iraq. Pope Francis is bound to Iraq for a four-day visit 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 to make the first-ever papal visit. AP Photo
Pope Francis boards a plane for his visit to Iraq, at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters
Pope Francis waves as he boards the plane for his visit to Iraq, at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters
The plane carrying Pope Francis is seen ahead of his visit to Iraq at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, in this screen grab taken from video. Reuters
Pope Francis is welcomed by crew members as he boards a plane for his visit to Iraq at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters
Pope Francis waves as he boards the plane for his visit to Iraq, at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters
Pope Francis will visit Ur
On Saturday, he will visit the historic site of Ur, which is thought to be where the patriarch Abraham was from.
The site where Abraham, the father of three main monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – is thought to have been born in the ancient city of Ur. Its ruins are in what is now Dhi Qar province, Iraq, about 375 kilometres southeast of Baghdad. AFP
The ancient archaeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, before the planned visit of Pope Francis. Reuters
The ancient archaeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, before the planned visit of Pope Francis. Reuters
The ancient archaeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, before the planned visit of Pope Francis. Reuters
Men walk down the stairs of the Ziggurat of Ur ruins, near Nassiriya, Iraq. Reuters
The ancient archaeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, near Nassiriya, Iraq. Reuters
Officials inspect the ancient archaeological site of Ur, near Nassiriya, Iraq, before the planned arrival of Pope Francis. Reuters
Officials inspect the ancient archaeological site of Ur, near Nassiriya, Iraq, before the planned arrival of Pope Francis. Reuters
A man inspects the ancient archaeological site of Ur, near Nassiriya, Iraq, before the planned arrival of Pope Francis. Reuters
A man walks towards the ancient archaeological site of Ur, near Nassiriya, Iraq, before the planned arrival of Pope Francis. Reuters
The Ziggurat of Ur ruins, near Nassiriya, Iraq. Reuters
The Ziggurat of Ur ruins, near Nassiriya, Iraq. Reuters
The Ziggurat of Ur ruins, near Nassiriya, Iraq. Reuters
The Ziggurat of Ur ruins, near Nassiriya, Iraq. Reuters
The Great Ziggurat temple, Ur, where Abraham, the father of three main monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – is thought to have been born in the ancient city of Ur. Its ruins are in what is now Dhi Qar province, Iraq, about 375 kilometres southeast of Baghdad. AFP
Iraq prepares for Pope Francis
Christians across the country prepared for the Pope's arrival as roads were repaved, streets cleaned and greenery pruned before the big visit.
Volunteers finalise preparations to recieve Pope Francis in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (al-Tahira) in the old city of Iraq's northern city of Mosul ahead of the pontiff's visit later in the week. AFP
Volunteers stand holding posters welcoming Pope Francis in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (al-Tahira) in the old city of Iraq's northern city of Mosul ahead of the pontiff's visit later in the week. AFP
Posters welcoming Pope Francis are prepared at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church ahead of the Pope's visit, in Baghdad, Iraq. AP Photo
Men stand holding a poster by UNESCO welcoming Pope Francis at a cultural centre in the old city of Iraq's northern city of Mosul ahead of the pontiff's visit later in the week. AFP
Pope Francis is preparing for what the Vatican website describes as the "apostolic journey of the holy father" to Iraq this week. Francis' visit will be the first by a pope to Iraq, and Roman Catholics are busy preparing for his arrival. Here, work is done on the roof of St Mary Al Tahira Church at Qaraqosh near Mosul, one of the churches on the Pope's schedule. Getty Images
A worker helps to prepare Erbil international Stadium, also known as the Franso Hariri Stadium, for the visit of Pope Francis to the capital of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. EPA
An Iraqi Christian visits a building in Qaraqosh, Iraq, that bears the scars of ISIS violence. Reuters
Father Ammar Altony Yako leads prayers as Christians attend mass at the Grand Immaculate Old Church in Qaraqosh, the largest church in Iraq. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit on Sunday as part of his tour. Reuters
The town of Qaraqosh was ravaged by ISIS after 2014 and liberated from the extremists in 2017. Christians of all denominations have joined in an effort to encourage their communities to return. Reuters
Christian militiamen and police officers stand guard at a gate in Qaraqosh, Iraq. Reuters
Staff at a shop in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region, print flyers for Pope Francis's visit. AFP
Workers print flyers of Pope Francis at a shop in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region, ahead of the first-ever papal visit to Iraq. AFP
Musicians from a joint Kurdish and Christians orchestra and choir rehearse at Erbil international Stadium, also known as the Franso Hariri Stadium, for the visit of Pope Francis to the capital of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. EPA
Choristers from a joint Kurdish and Christians orchestra and choir rehearse at Erbil international Stadium for the visit of Pope Francis to the capital of the Kurdistan region in Iraq. EPA
Banners and Iraqi and Vatican flags go up in central Baghdad to welcome Pope Francis. EPA
Papal visits to the Middle East
It's not the first papal visit to the region.
Pope Benedict XVI visits Bkerke, Lebanon in September 2012. AFP
Pope Benedict XVI meets Muslim clerics while visiting Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president at the time, at the Baabda presidential palace in September 2012. AFP
Lebanese Catholics cheer as Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the Maronite Christian heartland of Bkerke in 2012. AFP
A large crowd attends a Mass held by Pope Benedict XVI in the Lebanese capital Beirut in September 2012. AFP
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd as he arrives to lead an open-air Mass at Beirut's waterfront on the final day of his visit to Lebanon in 2012. AFP
Wafaa, wife of Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president at the time, receives communion from Pope Benedict XVI during the Mass in Beirut. AFP
Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president at the time, meets Pope Benedict XVI before he departs Beirut. AFP
Pope Benedict XVI holds an open-air Mass in Beirut on the final day of his 2012 visit to Lebanon. AFP
Jordan's King Abdullah II and his wife Queen Rania give Pope Francis a tour of the Royal Palace in Amman in 2014. AFP
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Pope Francis visit Bethany, a site on the eastern bank of the River Jordan where some Christians believe Jesus was baptised. AFP
Pope Francis visits Bethany in 2014. Some Christians believe it was the site where Jesus was baptised. AFP
King Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein, the king's religious affairs adviser, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, and Pope Francis visit Bethany in 2014. AFP
King Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein, religious affairs adviser Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad and Pope Francis at the site on the eastern bank of the River Jordan where some Christians believe Jesus was baptised. AFP
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate a Mass at the Amman Stadium in 2014. AFP
Pope Francis greets the crowd at the Amman Stadium, where he held a Mass in 2014. AFP
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he leaves the stadium after holding a Mass during his 2014 trip to Jordan. AFP
Pope Francis kisses a baby before holding a Mass in Amman in 2014. AFP
Pope Francis hugs a boy before holding a Mass at the Amman stadium during a visit to Jordan in 2014. AFP