٠٠:٠٢:٤٠Pope Francis celebrated a mass in Baghdad's Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph on Saturday, marking his first ever mass in Iraq.
"Love is our strength, the strength of so many brothers and sisters who here too have suffered prejudices and offences, mistreatments and persecutions for the name of Jesus," Pope Francis said in reference to Iraqi Christians.
"Those who have more means can acquire more knowledge and have more opportunities, while those who have less are put aside. It is an unacceptable inequality, which today has expanded," the pontiff continued.
The Pope's historic visit to Iraq 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: Pope Francis celebrates mass in Baghdad cathedral during historic visit
Pope Francis celebrated a mass in Baghdad's Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph on Saturday, marking his first ever mass in Iraq.
"Love is our strength, the strength of so many brothers and sisters who here too have suffered prejudices and offences, mistreatments and persecutions for the name of Jesus," Pope Francis said in reference to Iraqi Christians.
"Those who have more means can acquire more knowledge and have more opportunities, while those who have less are put aside. It is an unacceptable inequality, which today has expanded," the pontiff continued.
The Pope's historic visit to Iraq 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 celebrated a mass in Baghdad's Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph on Saturday, marking his first ever mass in Iraq.
"Love is our strength, the strength of so many brothers and sisters who here too have suffered prejudices and offences, mistreatments and persecutions for the name of Jesus," Pope Francis said in reference to Iraqi Christians.
"Those who have more means can acquire more knowledge and have more opportunities, while those who have less are put aside. It is an unacceptable inequality, which today has expanded," the pontiff continued.
The Pope's historic visit to Iraq 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).