Pope John Paul II had to cancel plans to visit Iraq at the turn of this century as the country’s escalating tensions with the United States undermined negotiations with Saddam Hussein for a papal visit. Pope Benedict XVI had to cancel his plans because of security concerns. And almost until the moment Pope Francis boarded the papal plane in Rome en route to Baghdad on Friday, the Vatican cautioned that his visit could be called off at any time. Yet despite concerns about the coronavirus and a precarious security situation — with a military base in northern Iraq targeted by a missile strike two days before his scheduled departure — Francis held firm in his desire to visit the long-suffering and fading Christian community in the war-torn nation.

Source: International New York Times March 05, 2021 09:48 UTC