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Pope Francis leaves Rome for historic Iraq trip: AFP
ROME, March 5, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Pope Francis left Rome on Friday for a historic trip to Iraq, his first abroad since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to an AFP reporter aboard his plane.
The Vatican has planned a packed three-day programme for the 84-year-old pope, which is intended to bring comfort to Iraq’s devastated Christian communities and will mark the high point in his continued outreach to Muslims with a meeting with reclusive Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.
BSS/AFP/MMA/1422HRS