Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemic March 05, 2021 at 01:19AM

Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday to urge the country's dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution. Iraqi foreign minister Fuad Hussein said Iraqis were eager to welcome Francis' “message of peace and tolerance” and described the visit as a historic meeting between the “minaret and the bells.”