Pope Francis heads to Iraq amid Covid-19 spread, security tensions

Pope Francis is set to arrive in Baghdad on Friday for the first ever papal visit to the Middle Eastern country, which comes amid rising coronavirus infections and a tense security situation.

Thousands of military and security forces have been deployed in Baghdad and other cities the pope will visit. A curfew, put in place around two weeks ago in a bid to limit the surge of coronavirus cases, is in place until Monday.

"I come as a pilgrim of peace in search of fraternity," Pope Francis said, addressing Iraqis one day before the visit.

Shortly after landing, he will meet Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, President Barham Saleh as well as church and civil society representatives.

The 84-year-old will travel across the country during his four-day visit.

He will head south to meet influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in the city of Najaf on Saturday, followed by an interfaith meeting in Ur, which is mentioned in the Bible as the home of Abraham.

Later, the pope will go to the northern autonomous Kurdistan region before heading to Mosul and Qaraqosh, where he will pray for the victims of the conflict with Islamic State extremist group, who seized large areas of northern Iraq in 2014, killing and displacing thousands.

“Let us not give up in the face of the spread of evil," Pope Francis urged Iraqis.

On Wednesday, the pope confirmed his visit would take place despite a rocket attack at an airbase in western Iraq used by international troops.