• Pope Francis holds a minute of silence at the destroyed cathedral in Mosul's old city. Reuters
    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 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, 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 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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

MENA

Pope prays for ISIS victims at ruins of churches in Mosul - in pictures

The pontiff said prayers in Church Square as part of Sunday's historic visit

The National

March 07, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

More on Iraq papal visit:

Mosul’s Church Square decorated with two symbolic crosses to welcome Pope

Pope Francis and Al Sistani talk coexistence at historic Iraq meet

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Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

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5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

While you're here
Iraq