٠٠:٠٣:٤٧Residents of the northern Iraqi city of Qaraqosh, in the outskirts of Mosul, reacted to the announcement of the Pope’s planned visit. After the destruction which took place when Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) controlled the area between 2014 and 2017, locals expressed hope, on Tuesday, that the visit could help revive the city.
Worshipers were seen chanting religious hymns, as Christmas lights could be spotted on the facade of Mar Behnam and Sarah Church.
The pastor of the Behnam and Sarah Church, Father George Jahoula, said that “for more than a decade, we have been waiting for the Pope to visit Iraq, and there have been attempts [to visit him], but the circumstances of Iraq did not allow that. This visit will definitely have a positive impact.”
The Bishop Charbel Esau, considered the visit to be of ‘great importance’ to the people of Qaraqosh, saying that “during the migration period, many traveled outside Iraq, and the number decreased by half.” He added he was hopeful that the Pope’s scheduled visit would be “an encouragement for a large section to return.”
Human rights expert Louis Youssef affirmed that the Pope, through his visit, will "urge regional countries, neighbouring countries, the UN Security Council and international organisations led by the United Nations to take into account the laws in force and human rights law [in their dealings with Iraq]."
Meanwhile, one of the city's residents described the scheduled visit as ‘unspeakable joy,’ calling at the same time to "rebuild churches and return the displaced to their homes."
The Vatican announced the intention of Pope Francis to make his first visit to Iraq between 5 and 8 March of next year, during which he would visit the capital Baghdad and the ancient city of Ur mentioned in the Bible, in addition to Erbil, as well as Mosul and Qaraqosh in the Nineveh plains.
The Pope’s trip to Iraq, which Iraqi President Barham Salih described as historic, will be his first in more than a year, after canceling all his foreign visits due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iraq: Qaraqosh residents hopeful Pope's announced visit could revive city
Residents of the northern Iraqi city of Qaraqosh, in the outskirts of Mosul, reacted to the announcement of the Pope’s planned visit. After the destruction which took place when Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) controlled the area between 2014 and 2017, locals expressed hope, on Tuesday, that the visit could help revive the city.
Worshipers were seen chanting religious hymns, as Christmas lights could be spotted on the facade of Mar Behnam and Sarah Church.
The pastor of the Behnam and Sarah Church, Father George Jahoula, said that “for more than a decade, we have been waiting for the Pope to visit Iraq, and there have been attempts [to visit him], but the circumstances of Iraq did not allow that. This visit will definitely have a positive impact.”
The Bishop Charbel Esau, considered the visit to be of ‘great importance’ to the people of Qaraqosh, saying that “during the migration period, many traveled outside Iraq, and the number decreased by half.” He added he was hopeful that the Pope’s scheduled visit would be “an encouragement for a large section to return.”
Human rights expert Louis Youssef affirmed that the Pope, through his visit, will "urge regional countries, neighbouring countries, the UN Security Council and international organisations led by the United Nations to take into account the laws in force and human rights law [in their dealings with Iraq]."
Meanwhile, one of the city's residents described the scheduled visit as ‘unspeakable joy,’ calling at the same time to "rebuild churches and return the displaced to their homes."
The Vatican announced the intention of Pope Francis to make his first visit to Iraq between 5 and 8 March of next year, during which he would visit the capital Baghdad and the ancient city of Ur mentioned in the Bible, in addition to Erbil, as well as Mosul and Qaraqosh in the Nineveh plains.
The Pope’s trip to Iraq, which Iraqi President Barham Salih described as historic, will be his first in more than a year, after canceling all his foreign visits due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents of the northern Iraqi city of Qaraqosh, in the outskirts of Mosul, reacted to the announcement of the Pope’s planned visit. After the destruction which took place when Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) controlled the area between 2014 and 2017, locals expressed hope, on Tuesday, that the visit could help revive the city.
Worshipers were seen chanting religious hymns, as Christmas lights could be spotted on the facade of Mar Behnam and Sarah Church.
The pastor of the Behnam and Sarah Church, Father George Jahoula, said that “for more than a decade, we have been waiting for the Pope to visit Iraq, and there have been attempts [to visit him], but the circumstances of Iraq did not allow that. This visit will definitely have a positive impact.”
The Bishop Charbel Esau, considered the visit to be of ‘great importance’ to the people of Qaraqosh, saying that “during the migration period, many traveled outside Iraq, and the number decreased by half.” He added he was hopeful that the Pope’s scheduled visit would be “an encouragement for a large section to return.”
Human rights expert Louis Youssef affirmed that the Pope, through his visit, will "urge regional countries, neighbouring countries, the UN Security Council and international organisations led by the United Nations to take into account the laws in force and human rights law [in their dealings with Iraq]."
Meanwhile, one of the city's residents described the scheduled visit as ‘unspeakable joy,’ calling at the same time to "rebuild churches and return the displaced to their homes."
The Vatican announced the intention of Pope Francis to make his first visit to Iraq between 5 and 8 March of next year, during which he would visit the capital Baghdad and the ancient city of Ur mentioned in the Bible, in addition to Erbil, as well as Mosul and Qaraqosh in the Nineveh plains.
The Pope’s trip to Iraq, which Iraqi President Barham Salih described as historic, will be his first in more than a year, after canceling all his foreign visits due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.