٠٠:٠١:٤٢Pope Francis was greeted at Baghdad's International Airport with traditional celebrations including music, dancing and swords, on Friday, as he and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi left the airport.
The pontiff went on to meet with Iraqi President Barham Salih at the Presidential palace, on the first of his historic four-day visit to Iraq.
The visit comes as part of an initiative to preserve Iraq's ancient Christian communities and support the return of those Christians driven out by the so-called Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).
Iraq: Watch when dancers and musicians greeted Pope Francis with traditional celebrations
Pope Francis was greeted at Baghdad's International Airport with traditional celebrations including music, dancing and swords, on Friday, as he and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi left the airport.
The pontiff went on to meet with Iraqi President Barham Salih at the Presidential palace, on the first of his historic four-day visit to Iraq.
The visit comes as part of an initiative to preserve Iraq's ancient Christian communities and support the return of those Christians driven out by the so-called Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).
Pope Francis was greeted at Baghdad's International Airport with traditional celebrations including music, dancing and swords, on Friday, as he and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi left the airport.
The pontiff went on to meet with Iraqi President Barham Salih at the Presidential palace, on the first of his historic four-day visit to Iraq.
The visit comes as part of an initiative to preserve Iraq's ancient Christian communities and support the return of those Christians driven out by the so-called Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).