![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VD5A6LQMP22FMHYJYNWHA2K3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=69989776f9288b6f5f9033a560e42c20aaccae24389e8c70cf02f06a47a8cc15&width=400&height=225)
epa08163284 A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ALMNJ3ADNJGUEJHJSI6XAW5UN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=af786c04fc38fb5f3ff3d3e1224c6b99862a010a6aaab84732f7a05d7e285407&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KR3KX2CV5M2VSEITK3VA63ACY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f29e7953602a31daef88028ac93ccf46cd0ee577e7c64e761d00a051311353a6&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LLUEQXQUN45DOF4ELARPJE2OE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e63840482a9d41c935006397fa650c5e4d5739846d39c3e2f5a936883b2d24a9&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2MKL5K2XEVJVXT5IS44GIYQN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f77a464517cd03c30d26260cee05a7b3ef781a28abd91f13eb15010d97113b9&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NETTJY552M5KY4SBKD5ISIQ6P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f038cc41f86c7ce50bda679f46da9d10043e47c39396a5de104fc75d6fc26c43&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CMMYCBLKK7PDGQDYOM5IHZB34.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c0d2e68f62d03958653e01f8b195110be3c5141845074ac3a9c27137863edf6&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEGESHXDXQ7IL67NVHYXCPA3LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb886cc7bcb9a96fcd0cea3553389b7035f4f3baa81a12f01a392b8d8d69f35a&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAHAWLPGQR56FPYKFTNHLG4MME.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a02eb6974f127edb0081300d691b5ae77063a20cca8ae3eae89b38fff3f83c2&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDPFJ4U4T5YV2ERSTVSBODMPKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2ae1b34de743c790707331545a0eff7e6d292dc23f925978ffbcf6fa2bbe584&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JMHGT2VBB7EUWBCABHCGH3KVHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04c195c09226c586916346a6e467c8526ac1b55c7fd347258392b3e9ee1f3cfa&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F25PGNOI7GVRVRK4S4U4FYH2CQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=028d0b58f187c8dd1ff603053a1816b25de2e344af65466d3b3214d63a34f6b7&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HGFHFSOUR7BA4WRGI7OL6433FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d180d168f8c13721ba40b7a9dfc3125822d0168299f71bef1216c221746dcb6b&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VD5A6LQMP22FMHYJYNWHA2K3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=69989776f9288b6f5f9033a560e42c20aaccae24389e8c70cf02f06a47a8cc15&width=400&height=225)
epa08163284 A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ALMNJ3ADNJGUEJHJSI6XAW5UN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=af786c04fc38fb5f3ff3d3e1224c6b99862a010a6aaab84732f7a05d7e285407&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KR3KX2CV5M2VSEITK3VA63ACY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f29e7953602a31daef88028ac93ccf46cd0ee577e7c64e761d00a051311353a6&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LLUEQXQUN45DOF4ELARPJE2OE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e63840482a9d41c935006397fa650c5e4d5739846d39c3e2f5a936883b2d24a9&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2MKL5K2XEVJVXT5IS44GIYQN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f77a464517cd03c30d26260cee05a7b3ef781a28abd91f13eb15010d97113b9&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NETTJY552M5KY4SBKD5ISIQ6P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f038cc41f86c7ce50bda679f46da9d10043e47c39396a5de104fc75d6fc26c43&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CMMYCBLKK7PDGQDYOM5IHZB34.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c0d2e68f62d03958653e01f8b195110be3c5141845074ac3a9c27137863edf6&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEGESHXDXQ7IL67NVHYXCPA3LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb886cc7bcb9a96fcd0cea3553389b7035f4f3baa81a12f01a392b8d8d69f35a&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAHAWLPGQR56FPYKFTNHLG4MME.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a02eb6974f127edb0081300d691b5ae77063a20cca8ae3eae89b38fff3f83c2&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDPFJ4U4T5YV2ERSTVSBODMPKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2ae1b34de743c790707331545a0eff7e6d292dc23f925978ffbcf6fa2bbe584&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JMHGT2VBB7EUWBCABHCGH3KVHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04c195c09226c586916346a6e467c8526ac1b55c7fd347258392b3e9ee1f3cfa&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F25PGNOI7GVRVRK4S4U4FYH2CQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=028d0b58f187c8dd1ff603053a1816b25de2e344af65466d3b3214d63a34f6b7&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HGFHFSOUR7BA4WRGI7OL6433FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d180d168f8c13721ba40b7a9dfc3125822d0168299f71bef1216c221746dcb6b&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VD5A6LQMP22FMHYJYNWHA2K3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=69989776f9288b6f5f9033a560e42c20aaccae24389e8c70cf02f06a47a8cc15&width=400&height=225)
epa08163284 A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
Pope’s Iraq visit will inspire unity and peace, says leading bishop
The first papal visit to Iraq has been hailed by President Barham Salih and head of the Catholic Church Cardinal Raphael Louis Sako
![Mina Aldroubi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F48481d72-67cc-4a04-b275-155199d827d0.png?smart=true&auth=96cfe1b4f5fdcd35f4d973dfd9dd3dc13e3b30b54a8e526b78eab5e8deef7736&width=70&height=70)
Mina Aldroubi
01 March, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic