Dove of Peace: Pontiff Meets Iraqi Christians During First-Ever Papal Visit to the Mideast Nation

The papal plane landed at Baghdad International Airport after taking off from Italy’s Fiumicino Airport on Friday morning. Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi arrived at Baghdad’s airport to receive Pope Francis.

The papal trip to Iraq will last until 8 March and includes visits to Baghdad, Najaf, Ur — thought to be the birthplace of Abraham — and other cities.

Ahead of the visit, the pope said in a special address to the Iraqi people that he would come to their country as a peace messenger to pray for reconciliation after the years of war and terrorism that have plagued Iraq.

Check out Sputnik's gallery to see the historic papal visit to Iraq.

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Pope Francis releases a white dove during a prayer for war victims at “Hosh al-Bieaa”, Church Square, in Mosul's Old City, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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Pope Francis arrives to hold a minute of silence at the destroyed cathedral in Mosul's Old City, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis near the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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A security officer guards the area ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Mosul, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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A motorcade leaves the Syro-Catholic Cathedral of “Our Lady of Salvation” after Pope Francis' visit, in Baghdad, Iraq, 5 March 2021.

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Pope Francis meets with Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in Najaf, Iraq. Picture taken 6 March 2021.

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Girls wave national flags as they gather at Church Square ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to visit Mosul, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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A photojournalist uses his camera from atop a broken wall near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (al-Tahira-l-Kubra), in the Old City of Iraq's northern Mosul, amidst preparations ahead of the Pope's visit, on 7 March 2021.

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Pope Francis is welcomed as he arrives for an inter-religious prayer at the ancient archaeological site of Ur, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, in Ur near Nasiriya, Iraq, 6 March 2021.

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A girl sits down before Pope Francis holds a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi welcomes Pope Francis at Baghdad International Airport, in Baghdad, Iraq, 5 March 2021.

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People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis near the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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A nun wearing a protective face mask greets Pope Francis during a prayer for war victims at “Hosh al-Bieaa”, Church Square, in Mosul's Old City, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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Journalists and people wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at “Hosh al-Bieaa”, Church Square, in Mosul's Old City, Iraq, 7 March 2021.

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Pope Francis waves as he leaves after holding a mass at the Chaldean Cathedral of "Saint Joseph" in Baghdad, Iraq, 6 March 2021.