EDITORIAL

Pope Francis brings Peace and Hope to Iraq through visit

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Last week, Pope Francis landed on Iraqi soil as a “pilgrim of peace,” to borrow the Holy Father’s words. He became the first pontiff to do so. Strangely, however, this feat of papal diplomacy unleashed a new variety of criticism against the pope. Francis has ventured to a dangerous land in an inopportune time, his opponents argue, as Iraq is a potential hot-spot for further spread of COVID-19.
The papal entourage had ensured that security would limit crowd size and congregants would be required to wear masks. The Holy Father has already received his COVID-19 vaccine, signaling that the Church takes the pandemic seriously. But that isn’t enough. Can’t the pope deliver a speech to the people of Iraq via Zoom? Can’t the Vatican distribute holy cards gift-wrapped in sanitized plastic to people’s homes?
For Western elites, with immediate access to the benefits of technology, the best health care system in the world, and numerous opportunities afforded by a stable government, it’s easy to offer suggestions like these.
But the people of Iraq — especially minority Christians — have waited for this moment for too long. The scourge of war and Islamic extremism have inflicted innumerable wounds. Dictatorship failed Iraq once, and the immature structures of a make-shift democracy do not appear overwhelmingly immune from failure again. The pope, however, brings something unique. He brings the Lord. Whether the mystery of suffering manifests itself in war, terrorism, or a global pandemic, the solution is the same: the peace and hope that comes only from God.