![epa08163284 A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VD5A6LQMP22FMHYJYNWHA2K3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=69989776f9288b6f5f9033a560e42c20aaccae24389e8c70cf02f06a47a8cc15&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ALMNJ3ADNJGUEJHJSI6XAW5UN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=af786c04fc38fb5f3ff3d3e1224c6b99862a010a6aaab84732f7a05d7e285407&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KR3KX2CV5M2VSEITK3VA63ACY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f29e7953602a31daef88028ac93ccf46cd0ee577e7c64e761d00a051311353a6&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LLUEQXQUN45DOF4ELARPJE2OE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e63840482a9d41c935006397fa650c5e4d5739846d39c3e2f5a936883b2d24a9&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2MKL5K2XEVJVXT5IS44GIYQN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f77a464517cd03c30d26260cee05a7b3ef781a28abd91f13eb15010d97113b9&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NETTJY552M5KY4SBKD5ISIQ6P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f038cc41f86c7ce50bda679f46da9d10043e47c39396a5de104fc75d6fc26c43&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CMMYCBLKK7PDGQDYOM5IHZB34.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c0d2e68f62d03958653e01f8b195110be3c5141845074ac3a9c27137863edf6&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEGESHXDXQ7IL67NVHYXCPA3LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb886cc7bcb9a96fcd0cea3553389b7035f4f3baa81a12f01a392b8d8d69f35a&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAHAWLPGQR56FPYKFTNHLG4MME.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a02eb6974f127edb0081300d691b5ae77063a20cca8ae3eae89b38fff3f83c2&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDPFJ4U4T5YV2ERSTVSBODMPKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2ae1b34de743c790707331545a0eff7e6d292dc23f925978ffbcf6fa2bbe584&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JMHGT2VBB7EUWBCABHCGH3KVHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04c195c09226c586916346a6e467c8526ac1b55c7fd347258392b3e9ee1f3cfa&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F25PGNOI7GVRVRK4S4U4FYH2CQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=028d0b58f187c8dd1ff603053a1816b25de2e344af65466d3b3214d63a34f6b7&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HGFHFSOUR7BA4WRGI7OL6433FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d180d168f8c13721ba40b7a9dfc3125822d0168299f71bef1216c221746dcb6b&width=400&height=225)
![epa08163284 A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VD5A6LQMP22FMHYJYNWHA2K3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=69989776f9288b6f5f9033a560e42c20aaccae24389e8c70cf02f06a47a8cc15&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ALMNJ3ADNJGUEJHJSI6XAW5UN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=af786c04fc38fb5f3ff3d3e1224c6b99862a010a6aaab84732f7a05d7e285407&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KR3KX2CV5M2VSEITK3VA63ACY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f29e7953602a31daef88028ac93ccf46cd0ee577e7c64e761d00a051311353a6&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2LLUEQXQUN45DOF4ELARPJE2OE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e63840482a9d41c935006397fa650c5e4d5739846d39c3e2f5a936883b2d24a9&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2MKL5K2XEVJVXT5IS44GIYQN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f77a464517cd03c30d26260cee05a7b3ef781a28abd91f13eb15010d97113b9&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NETTJY552M5KY4SBKD5ISIQ6P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f038cc41f86c7ce50bda679f46da9d10043e47c39396a5de104fc75d6fc26c43&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CMMYCBLKK7PDGQDYOM5IHZB34.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c0d2e68f62d03958653e01f8b195110be3c5141845074ac3a9c27137863edf6&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEGESHXDXQ7IL67NVHYXCPA3LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb886cc7bcb9a96fcd0cea3553389b7035f4f3baa81a12f01a392b8d8d69f35a&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAHAWLPGQR56FPYKFTNHLG4MME.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a02eb6974f127edb0081300d691b5ae77063a20cca8ae3eae89b38fff3f83c2&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDPFJ4U4T5YV2ERSTVSBODMPKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2ae1b34de743c790707331545a0eff7e6d292dc23f925978ffbcf6fa2bbe584&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JMHGT2VBB7EUWBCABHCGH3KVHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04c195c09226c586916346a6e467c8526ac1b55c7fd347258392b3e9ee1f3cfa&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F25PGNOI7GVRVRK4S4U4FYH2CQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=028d0b58f187c8dd1ff603053a1816b25de2e344af65466d3b3214d63a34f6b7&width=400&height=225)
![Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA, HO](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HGFHFSOUR7BA4WRGI7OL6433FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d180d168f8c13721ba40b7a9dfc3125822d0168299f71bef1216c221746dcb6b&width=400&height=225)
![epa08163284 A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving the President of the Republic of Iraq Barham Salih during a private audience at the Vatican, 25 January 2020. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VD5A6LQMP22FMHYJYNWHA2K3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=69989776f9288b6f5f9033a560e42c20aaccae24389e8c70cf02f06a47a8cc15&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis visit shifted public perceptions of Christianity, says Iraq's church head
But one year on from the papal tour, Iraqi Christians who had fled violence and persecution are still reluctant to return
![Mina Aldroubi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F48481d72-67cc-4a04-b275-155199d827d0.png?smart=true&auth=96cfe1b4f5fdcd35f4d973dfd9dd3dc13e3b30b54a8e526b78eab5e8deef7736&width=70&height=70)
Mina Aldroubi
March 05, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic