Francis made the improvised remark in an address to members of a group of charities that help Christians in the Middle East and other areas. Wars and conflicts have led to an exodus of Christians in Iraq and some other countries in the Middle East. In 2000, the late Pope John Paul wanted to visit the ancient Iraqi city of Ur, traditionally held to be the birthplace of Abraham. It was to have been the first leg of a three-step pilgrimage to Iraq, Egypt and Israel. But negotiations with the government of then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein broke down and he was unable to go.

Source: bd News24 June 10, 2019 11:03 UTC