{"id":44799,"date":"2021-03-05T19:28:55","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T19:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/?p=44799"},"modified":"2021-03-05T19:28:55","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T19:28:55","slug":"un-slams-irans-baluchistan-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/?p=44799","title":{"rendered":"UN slams Iran\u2019s Baluchistan crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nDUBAI: Pope Francis is in Iraq on Friday\u00a0for the start of a historic trip to the war-battered country, defying security fears and the coronavirus pandemic to comfort one of the world’s oldest and most persecuted Christian communities.<\/p>\n

\nThe 84-year-old pontiff, who said he was making the first-ever papal visit to Iraq as a \u2018pilgrim of peace<\/a>,\u2019 will also reach out to Shiite Muslims when he meets Iraq\u2019s top cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani.<\/p>\n

\nFollow live coverage of his first day itinerary below… (All times GMT)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n14:15 –<\/strong> During his flight from Rome to Baghdad, the Pope sent telegrams while flying over Palestine, Israel, and finally Jordan, to each of the\u00a0respective heads of state.<\/p>\n

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\nOverflight Palestine<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nHIS EXCELLENCY MAHMOUD ABBAS – PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE<\/p>\n

\nAS I FLY OVER PALESTINIAN TERRITORY ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO IRAQ, I EXTEND CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND I PRAY THAT THE MOST HIGH GOD WILL BLESS ALL PALESTINIANS WITH PEACE AND WELL-BEING. FRANCISCUS PP. <\/em><\/p>\n

\nOverflight Israel<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nHIS EXCELLENCY REUVEN RIVLIN – PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL<\/p>\n

\nENTERING ISRAELI AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO IRAQ, I SEND WARM GREETINGS TO YOU AND THE PEOPLE OF THE NATION, PRAYING THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL BLESS ALL WITH HIS GIFTS OF HARMONY AND PEACE. FRANCISCUS PP. <\/em><\/p>\n

\nOverflight Jordan<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nHIS MAJESTY ABDULLAH II – KING OF JORDAN<\/p>\n

\nI OFFER CORDIAL GREETINGS TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE OF JORDAN AS I FLY OVER JORDANIAN AIRSPACE ON MY APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO IRAQ. UPON THE ENTIRE NATION, I INVOKE THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS OF THE MOST HIGH. FRANCISCUS PP.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n14:00 – <\/strong>Next,\u00a0Pope Francis visits Our Lady of Salvation Syro-Catholic Cathedral in Bagdhad, where he will meet\u00a0with worshippers,\u00a0bishops & religious figures. Video below.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n13:45 – WATCH – ICYMI:\u00a0<\/strong>Pope Francis and the Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi are greeted by traditional dancing shortly after the pontiff’s arrival in Iraq.<\/p>\n

\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n13:30 – <\/strong>Pope Francis’ address at the Presidential Palace touches upon the need for Iraq’s internal differences to be resolved and how its institutions fighting corruption must be strengthened.<\/p>\n

\n13:00 – <\/strong>After a brief discussion, and exchange of symbolic gifts and a look at some of the artifacts\u00a0of the Presidential Palace, Pope Francis and Salih now hold a short briefing.<\/p>\n

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\n12:15 –<\/strong> President Barham Salih greets the Holy Father and, as a symbol of peace, doves are released into the Baghdad sky…<\/p>\n

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\n12:00 –<\/strong> Next on the Pope’s agenda is an official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad, where he will meet with President Salih\u00a0in the private office of the palace.<\/p>\n

\n11:30 –<\/strong> Following a brief discussion with the Iraq prime minister, the Pope will head to the Presidential Palace for a reception with President Salih. On leaving the airport, the Pope was treated to traditional Iraqi dance.<\/p>\n

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\n11:15 –<\/strong> Pope Francis and Al-Kadhimi now head into a VIP hall within the airport for an official reception and welcome.<\/p>\n

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\n11:00 – <\/strong>The Pope touches down at\u00a0Baghdad International Airport, where he will receive an official welcome and meet\u00a0with Iraqi prime minister Al-Kadhimi.<\/p>\n

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\n#LIVE<\/a>: Pope Francis lands in #Baghdad<\/a> for the start of his #Iraq<\/a> trip #PopeFrancisInIraq<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/Gy63vcPASY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Arab News (@arabnews) March 5, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\nREAD MORE<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\nGo to Arab News’ dedicated In Focus section on the Pope’s visit to Iraq for coverage of the historic trip. Click here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n09:45 – Here is what to expect during his four days of stay in Iraq:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nDay 1: Baghdad<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nUpon arrival in Iraq, Pope Francis will meet privately with Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.<\/p>\n

\nThen, following an official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Pope Francis will visit President Barham Salih. The Holy Father\u2019s first public event will be with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps at 3:45 p.m. in the Presidential Palace.<\/p>\n

\nAfterwards, he will travel to the Syriac-Catholic Cathedral of \u201cOur Lady of Salvation\u201d and meet with Bishops, priests, religious persons, seminarians and catechists.<\/p>\n

\nREAD:<\/strong> Massive security preparations in Iraq to protect Pope Francis during his four-day visit<\/a><\/p>\n

\nDay 2: Najaf, Ur, Baghdad<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nOn Saturday, Pope Francis will travel by plane to the cities of Najaf and Ur, before returning to Baghdad.<\/p>\n

\nThe Pope\u2019s first event of the day is a courtesy visit in Najaf to Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Iraq\u2019s Shiites.<\/p>\n

\nHe will then depart for Nasiriya to lead an interreligious meeting at the Plain of Ur.<\/p>\n

\nThe Pope will then return to Baghdad, where he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph.<\/p>\n

\nWATCH:<\/strong> Preparations for Pope Francis\u2019s Holy Mass at the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph, video below<\/em><\/p>\n

\nREAD:<\/strong> Pope Francis\u2019 visit to give hope and comfort to Iraqis of all faiths<\/a><\/p>\n

\nDay 3: Irbil, Mosul, Qaraqosh<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nOn Sunday, his third day in Iraq, Pope Francis will travel to Irbil, Mosul and Qaraqosh.<\/p>\n

\nHe is due to be welcomed upon his arrival in Irbil by the President of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan and the civil authorities of the region.<\/p>\n

\nHe will then meet with Nechirvan Barzani and Masrour Barzani, respectively President and Prime Minister of the autonomous region, privately, before departing by helicopter for Mosul.<\/p>\n

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\nThis section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\nIn Mosul, Pope Francis will lead a prayer of suffrage for war victims at Hosh Al-Bieaa.<\/p>\n

\nHe will then travel to Qaraqosh where he will visit the faithful at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.<\/p>\n

\nAfterwards, he will return to Irbil where he will celebrate Holy Mass at the \u2018Franso Hariri\u2019 stadium. The Pope will then travel back to Baghdad after the Holy Mass.<\/p>\n

\nWATCH:<\/strong> Iraqi Christians in California watch Pope Francis\u2019s visit from afar, video below<\/em><\/p>\n

\nREAD<\/em>: Papal visit brings joy and sadness for Iraq\u2019s dwindling Christian community<\/a><\/p>\n

\nDay 4: Baghdad, Rome<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nPope Francis will depart from Baghdad International Airport following a brief farewell ceremony. He is expected to arrive at Rome\u2019s Ciampino Airport at late evening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DUBAI: Pope Francis is in Iraq on Friday\u00a0for the start of a historic trip to the war-battered country, defying security fears and the coronavirus pandemic to comfort one of the world’s oldest and most persecuted Christian communities. The 84-year-old pontiff, who said he was making the first-ever papal visit to Iraq as a \u2018pilgrim of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spotlight_news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44799\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}