March 8, 2021 After historic whirlwind visit, Pope leaves Iraq for Rome The visit aimed to heal a divide in the country between the Islamic majority and Christian minority.
March 7, 2021 Where ISIS ruled, Pope Francis calls on Christians to forgive, rebuild Pope Francis called on Iraq's Christians to forgive the injustices committed against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community's historic heartland, which was nearly erased by the Islamic State group's horrific reign.
March 6, 2021 Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric hold historic, symbolic meeting The meeting lasted for 40 minutes, with some concerns over the cleric's safety as he has yet to be vaccinated.
March 5, 2021 Pope begins first-ever papal visit to Iraq, urges Christians to help rebuild country Iraqi security forces view the visit as an opportunity to show the world the improvements to the country.
March 4, 2021 Ahead of Pope visit, survivor recalls Christian church massacre in Iraq Six Al Qaeda-linked militants stormed and seized the church, killing dozens inside. At the time, the Oct. 31, 2010 attack was the bloodiest in a drumbeat of violence that Iraq’s Christians suffered during the brutal sectarian warfare following the 2003 U.S. invasion.
March 4, 2021 COVID-19 strikes 2 US Navy warships moored in Bahrain, at least 40 infected Two American warships continued to be out of action in Bahrain on Thursday amid heightened tensions with Iran following a spate of rocket attacks on American troops in Iraq and a U.S. airstrike in Syria late last week.Â
March 3, 2021 Lawmakers introduce bill to repeal Biden's war powers following Syria strike A bipartisan group of senators Wednesday called for the repeal of presidential war powers granted by Congress in 1991 and 2002, which would revoke authorization for military force in the Middle East, as tensions rise between the U.S. and Iran.
March 3, 2021 American contractor in Iraq dies from 'cardiac episode' as rockets hit base hosting US troops, Pentagon says An American contractor has died Wednesday after suffering a "cardiac episode" while sheltering in place during a rocket attack at an airbase in Iraq that hosts U.S., Iraqi and coalition troops, the Pentagon said.Â
March 3, 2021 Pope Francis will still travel to Iraq despite rocket attack: 'We can't disappoint' Pope Francis is pushing ahead with the first papal trip to Iraq despite rising coronavirus infections, hoping to encourage the country’s dwindling number of Christians who were violently persecuted during the Islamic State's insurgency while seeking to boost ties with the Shiite Muslim world.Â
March 1, 2021 Pope Francis' planned Iraq trip sparks security, health fears On Friday, Pope Francis heads to a country where ISIS tried its best to wipe Christians out altogether not so long ago. Add to the formidable pressure of lifting spirits in a war-torn country, there is a very real terrorist threat. And a raging pandemic.