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Pope invited to Iraq: Jordan envoy
AMMAN - Iraqi leaders have invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit Baghdad, his envoy to Jordan said on Sunday, as the pontiff confirmed he will visit the Middle East in May.One thing I can tell you about the visit to Baghdad is that both President (Jalal) Talabani and the Prime Minister (Nuri) al-Maliki have personally invited the Holy Father to visit Iraq, the apostolic nuncio to Jordan, Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikat, said. So the invitation is there, but we dont know exactly when that would happen, and the Holy Father eventually will give consideration to that, he told an Amman news conference. We can only hope and pray it will happen. Pope Benedict told thousands of pilgrims gathered in St Peters Square for weekly prayers on Sunday that he will visit Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan from May 8 to 15. He said he would use the visithis first to the regionto pray for the precious gift of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all of humanity. On the Jordan leg of the tour, he is expected to meet leaders of Iraqs Chaldean Catholic Church. The church is Iraqs largest Christian denomination and includes among its followers former deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz who remains in US custody awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity. Posted by: Steve White 2009-03-09 |
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