![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YFXW7QLZHOIOM4BE5MEWKWJYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1f6abf578022b8bdbf4f7fecf59f4d221a51b5195385c5910af3629b52ab49b&width=400&height=225)
Ignatius Joseph III Yunan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, reads from a book as Pope Francis listens while on the throne at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZO2UGXFH65KIXNO5VT3PURZGVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=81a4af496d02958f8593e18fdb3b6c961f42090949ce8ad62087290a8280df71&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis arrives to hold a mass at the Grand Immaculate Church, in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP7UIAM7J2H7YNUNKLJ5FKJITQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a427c9f53021bdf55093723d1c976074aee1c1639b6dbb832fa79cb4ffb84940&width=400&height=225)
An Iraqi security force officer guards as people wait to greet Pope Francis in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCEMYQOBOIK46JBH26KZF53SBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=254f70d3dc3eef2df6371ebe8e89a5437acbaa6bb1c3b3b9478f41ba7fc3ea2f&width=400&height=225)
Children with flags wait for Pope Francis to arrive at a meeting with the Qaraqosh community at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TVKJTCIYBFWQLTULRG2WCMT44.jpg?smart=true&auth=3414931ed53d5fcc3b780c2f70118ff1bb1a76434b86bd03356e20e3ad21a54c&width=400&height=225)
People wait for Pope Francis before his arrival inside the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh (Baghdeda). AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6P667QRG2TZYOB5CL7SHA4WNQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ebb75d05a83d2e50fab6fc9fe911e1f93be3d7ccb5949ecf26b81ae1d96bb327&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis arrives to hold a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NK3PBTCJEEHOFLKJU2633ZP2J4.jpg?smart=true&auth=406fce394b9bd6772f2ff2424669fdca6093b18f8a2eae3c0e6ca88166c7f692&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis sits down before holding a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q622CQ4WEOETI2PZKZ3EYIAMDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3439ac72c922c31c0f8fa599f966574e2090039214a8a8eb75a1d58bc94cc81&width=400&height=225)
A girl sits down before Pope Francis holds a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YFXW7QLZHOIOM4BE5MEWKWJYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1f6abf578022b8bdbf4f7fecf59f4d221a51b5195385c5910af3629b52ab49b&width=400&height=225)
Ignatius Joseph III Yunan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, reads from a book as Pope Francis listens while on the throne at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZO2UGXFH65KIXNO5VT3PURZGVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=81a4af496d02958f8593e18fdb3b6c961f42090949ce8ad62087290a8280df71&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis arrives to hold a mass at the Grand Immaculate Church, in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP7UIAM7J2H7YNUNKLJ5FKJITQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a427c9f53021bdf55093723d1c976074aee1c1639b6dbb832fa79cb4ffb84940&width=400&height=225)
An Iraqi security force officer guards as people wait to greet Pope Francis in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TCEMYQOBOIK46JBH26KZF53SBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=254f70d3dc3eef2df6371ebe8e89a5437acbaa6bb1c3b3b9478f41ba7fc3ea2f&width=400&height=225)
Children with flags wait for Pope Francis to arrive at a meeting with the Qaraqosh community at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TVKJTCIYBFWQLTULRG2WCMT44.jpg?smart=true&auth=3414931ed53d5fcc3b780c2f70118ff1bb1a76434b86bd03356e20e3ad21a54c&width=400&height=225)
People wait for Pope Francis before his arrival inside the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh (Baghdeda). AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6P667QRG2TZYOB5CL7SHA4WNQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ebb75d05a83d2e50fab6fc9fe911e1f93be3d7ccb5949ecf26b81ae1d96bb327&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis arrives to hold a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NK3PBTCJEEHOFLKJU2633ZP2J4.jpg?smart=true&auth=406fce394b9bd6772f2ff2424669fdca6093b18f8a2eae3c0e6ca88166c7f692&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis sits down before holding a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q622CQ4WEOETI2PZKZ3EYIAMDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3439ac72c922c31c0f8fa599f966574e2090039214a8a8eb75a1d58bc94cc81&width=400&height=225)
A girl sits down before Pope Francis holds a prayer at the Grand Immaculate Church in the town of Qaraqosh. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YFXW7QLZHOIOM4BE5MEWKWJYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1f6abf578022b8bdbf4f7fecf59f4d221a51b5195385c5910af3629b52ab49b&width=400&height=225)
Ignatius Joseph III Yunan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, reads from a book as Pope Francis listens while on the throne at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP
Pope Francis in Iraq brings hope to town crushed by ISIS
Town of Qaraqosh was once largest Christian community in Iraq, then ISIS destroyed it. Pope Francis’s visit may boost the revival, residents tell Gareth Browne
![Gareth Browne](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4d4a1c06-f037-4c51-b70f-14ff8e47802b.png?smart=true&auth=b2123b80c4a9839641f31b3f17d10aaeafe4a03c883b5dd2a31a7e99e12a035f&width=70&height=70)
Gareth Browne
08 March, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic