An Iraqi Priest Prepares for the arrival of Pope Francis
A few days ago I was surprised to read that Pope Francis would be Iraq for a visit, starting today and through the weekend. Francis has expressed concern about the COVID-19 pandemic often, urging wealthier countries to ensure that poorer nations get an adequate supply of vaccines and stating that getting vaccinated is a moral obligation. So why would this 84-year-old take the risk of being a pontifical super-spreader? This from a New York Times article
The Vatican insists the March 5-8 trip will be a safe, socially distanced and sober visit devoid of the usual fanfare and celebrations. On Tuesday, Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, downplayed the number of cases in Iraq as he addressed reporters who asked how the pope could possibly justify not delaying a trip that could endanger so many.
He also emphasized the relative young age of many Iraqis and said that the pope would travel in a closed car so as not to attract crowds. “No more than a few hundred people, distanced” would be gathered to see him to minimize the risks, he said. But Francis is planning a large mass with thousands of people in a soccer stadium in the Kurdish town of Erbil, and will likely draw crowds to watch him pray in Qaraqosh, a town of Syriac Catholics, in the northern Nineveh Plains.
I appreciate that Pope Francis has a heart for Iraqi Christians who have been persecuted in this largely Muslim nation since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Saddam was a heartless tyrant in many respects but he protected minority religious groups. Many Christians have fled Iraq over the past two decades, churches have closed, and Christians have been killed. Francis wants to encourage the Christian remnant and he will include the first papal meeting with a grand ayatollah in his itinerary.
Francis has asked for prayers as he begins this visit, and we can't begrudge the request. Perhaps we should have been praying that he would change his mind, at least for now.
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