Pope in Iraq: The pontiff's symbolic visit amid the rubble came with a message of peace and hope - Sky News

In a visit full of historic firsts, surely the most symbolic moment came this Sunday morning.

The Pope was in the rubble of an Iraqi city that came to define extremist intolerance; he was in Mosul with his message of peace.

In a clearing next to the city's ruined Al Tahera church he prayed for the victims of war.

Image: Pope Francis, sitting in a cart, is shown the devastation of the Syriac Catholic Al Tahera church near Hosh al Bieaa Church Square. Pic: AP

He sat in a white chair on a raised platform carpeted in red and surrounded by the grey concrete rubble of years of war.

Only a small number of people were permitted to sit in the congregation. Coronavirus and security risks are limiting his audiences throughout this trip.

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But the imagery alone - broadcast globally - delivers his message of unity, tolerance and dialogue.

Just seven years ago, in this city, the leader of the so-called Islamic State, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, clad in black, declared a caliphate that would stretch to Rome.

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Mosul was occupied by ISIS, as the Islamic State is also known, for four years. It took a year of urban warfare of the type not seen since World War Two to liberate the city.

The legacy, in rubble, is all around.

After the short service of prayer the Pope was driven around a small secure part of the old city to see the destruction.

From Mosul he moved to the Christian village of Qaraqosh. To the southeast, it was also occupied by ISIS. At its height, the Islamic State held one third of Iraq.

Image: Pope Francis, surrounded by shells of destroyed churches, arrives to pray at Hosh al-Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul. Pic: AP

In the town I met Abu Walid and his family. They were trapped in their home when ISIS took their town.

For nearly three weeks he was beaten for not accepting their way of life. The family escaped but their trauma is still so painfully clear.

"I was scared for my daughter, God forbid anything happened to her," Abu Walid told me.

"I thought they (ISIS) would take my sons from me; that my sons would end up like them. If I don't accept (their way of life) they would put a bullet in my head." He gestured with his hand.

Fraternity is more durable than fratricide, hope is more powerful than hatred, peace more powerful than war. This conviction can never be silenced by the blood spilled by those who pervert the name of God to pursue paths of destruction. #ApostolicJourney #Iraq

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 7, 2021

"But God was with us and protected us. And people prayed for us."

His wife Um was sobbing next to him.

"Can you imagine we had a psychological breakdown from the fear. You're sitting in your house; you cannot leave or go anywhere. You can't make a sound or switch on your lights. It was like living in a crypt underground from the fear," Abu Walid adds.

Image: People in Qaraqosh wait for the Pope's arrival

"It's like you were dead and buried. You are in a grave. Your body is dead but you're still breathing."

Two of their three children were sitting with them. Their daughter was born with learning difficulties, and they tell me all three children now have psychological trauma.

It was clear from our chat that they are all deeply scarred. But they did live, and they have now returned to their Christian town. The hope is that tolerance and peace will allow more to do the same.

The sense I got is that the visit of Pope Francis will bring them some strength. For all the jeopardy of his visit, it means so much to people like Abu Walid.

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2021-03-07 09:53:52Z
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Pope leads prayers in Mosul - former Islamic State stronghold in Iraq - Sky News

Pope Francis has led prayers in Mosul on his tour of Iraq - a former stronghold of terror group Islamic State.

The Pope flew in by helicopter from nearby Erbil, and was greeted by crowds in the decimated northern Iraqi city, where just a handful of Christian families now live.

Thousands of Christians fled the area during the IS occupation, where they were faced with conversion, death, or paying a tax for non-Muslims.

Image: The Pope visited an area that was ruined by IS during its occupation

On the way to the venue, he stopped by the ruins of homes and cathedrals that had been destroyed by IS violence, to hold a moment of silence.

He then took part in the service from a once-bustling city square, surrounded by the ruins of several damaged churches, which were destroyed when IS overran the area in 2014.

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"How cruel it is that this country, the cradle of civilization, should have been afflicted by so barbarous a blow, with ancient places of worship destroyed and many thousands of people - Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others - forcibly displaced or killed," he told the crowd.

"Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war."

More from Iraq

Pope Francis added that hope could not be "silenced by the blood spilled by those who pervert the name of God to pursue paths of destruction".

In prayer, he said: "If God is the God of life - for so he is - then it is wrong for us to kill our brothers and sisters in his name. If God is the God of peace - for so he is - then it is wrong for us to wage war in his name.

Image: Pope Francis in Mosul - on the third day of his historic tour

"If God is the God of love - for so he is - then it is wrong for us to hate our brothers and sisters."

He concluded the prayer saying: "To you we entrust all those whose span of earthly life was cut short by the violent hand of their brothers and sisters; we also pray to you for those who caused such harm to their brothers and sisters. May they repent, touched by the power of your mercy."

A white dove was also released by Pope Francis, to symbolise peace - a running theme for his papal visit.

Image: A white dove is released in a sign of peace

In 2014, in Mosul's al-Nuri mosque, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi gave a sermon in an extremely rare public appearance, where he announced the IS caliphate.

Mosul was liberated in July 2017 after a brutal three-year regime of terror in the city, that left an estimated 9,000-11,000 people dead.

The Vatican hopes that Pope Francis's appearance in Mosul will encourage Christian communities to stay in the area, despite years of violence and persecution.

The Pope visited one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world on Saturday, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, where the men discussed the issues facing Christian communities in the country.

Image: Pope Francis arrives to hold a minute of silence at a destroyed cathedral

Following the meeting, al Sistani said he wanted Muslims and Christians to coexist in Iraq, and called on other religious leaders to hold great powers to account and for wisdom and sense to prevail over war.

Later on Sunday, Pope Francis will travel to the Christian village of Qaraqosh, where he will visit the Immaculate Conception Church, before heading back to Erbil to hold mass in the Franso Hariri stadium.

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2021-03-07 08:28:34Z
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Pope leads prayers in Mosul - former Islamic State stronghold in Iraq - Sky News

Pope Francis has led prayers in Mosul on his tour of Iraq - a former stronghold of terror group Islamic State.

The Pope flew in by helicopter from nearby Erbil, and held mass in the decimated northern Iraqi city, where just a handful of Christian families now live.

Thousands of Christians fled the area during the IS occupation, where they were faced with conversion, death, or paying a tax for non-Muslims.

Image: The papacy visited an area that was ruined by IS during its occupation

On the way to the venue, he stopped by the ruins of homes and cathedrals that had been destroyed by IS violence, to hold a moment of silence.

He then took part in the service from a once-bustling city square, surrounded by the ruins of several damaged churches, which were destroyed when IS overran the area in 2014.

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"How cruel it is that this country, the cradle of civilization, should have been afflicted by so barbarous a blow, with ancient places of worship destroyed and many thousands of people - Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others - forcibly displaced or killed," he told the crowd.

"Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war."

More from Iraq

Pope Francis added that hope could not be "silenced by the blood spilled by those who pervert the name of God to pursue paths of destruction".

In prayer, he said: "If God is the God of life - for so he is - then it is wrong for us to kill our brothers and sisters in his name. If God is the God of peace - for so he is - then it is wrong for us to wage war in his name.

Image: Pope Francis in Mosul - on the third day of his historic tour

"If God is the God of love - for so he is - then it is wrong for us to hate our brothers and sisters."

He concluded the prayer saying: "To you we entrust all those whose span of earthly life was cut short by the violent hand of their brothers and sisters; we also pray to you for those who caused such harm to their brothers and sisters. May they repent, touched by the power of your mercy."

A white dove was also released by Pope Francis, to symbolise peace - a running theme for his papal visit.

Image: A white dove is released in a sign of peace

In 2014, in Mosul's al-Nuri mosque, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi gave a sermon in an extremely rare public appearance, where he announced the IS caliphate.

Mosul was liberated in July 2017 after a brutal three-year regime of terror in the city, that left an estimated 9,000-11,000 people dead.

The Vatican hopes that Pope Francis' appearance in Mosul will encourage Christian communities to stay in the area, despite years of violence and persecution.

The Pope visited one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world on Saturday, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, where the men discussed the issues facing Christian communities in the country.

Image: Pope Francis arrives to hold a minute of silence at the destroyed cathedral

Following the meeting, al Sistani said he wanted Muslims and Christians to coexist in Iraq, and called on other religious leaders to hold great powers to account and for wisdom and sense to prevail over war.

Later on Sunday, Pope Francis will travel to the Christian village of Qaraqosh, where he will visit the Immaculate Conception Church, before heading back to Erbil to hold mass in the Franso Hariri stadium.

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2021-03-07 08:26:15Z
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'Hope is more powerful than hatred': Pope visits Mosul - former Islamic State stronghold in Iraq - Sky News

Pope Francis has led prayers in Mosul on his tour of Iraq, a former stronghold of terror group Islamic State.

The Pope flew in by helicopter from nearby Erbil, and held mass in the decimated northern Iraqi city, where just a handful of Christian families now live.

Thousands of Christians fled the area during the IS occupation, where they were faced with conversion, death, or paying a tax for non-Muslims.

Image: The papacy visited an area that was ruined by IS during its occupation

He took part in the service from a once-bustling city square, surrounded by the ruins of several damaged churches, which were destroyed when IS overran the area in 2014.

"How cruel it is that this country, the cradle of civilization, should have been afflicted by so barbarous a blow, with ancient places of worship destroyed and many thousands of people - Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others - forcibly displaced or killed," he prayed.

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"Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war."

Pope Francis added that hope could not be "silenced by the blood spilled by those who pervert the name of God to pursue paths of destruction."

More from Iraq

In 2014, in Mosul's al-Nuri mosque, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi gave a sermon in an extremely rare public appearance, where he announced the IS caliphate.

Image: Pope Francis in Mosul - on the third day of his historic tour

Mosul was liberated in July 2017 after a brutal three-year regime of terror in the city, that left an estimated 9,000-11,000 people dead.

The Vatican hopes that Pope Francis' appearance in Mosul will encourage Christian communities to stay in the area, despite years of violence and persecution.

The Pope visited one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world on Saturday, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, where the men discussed the issues facing Christian communities in the country.

Image: Pope Francis arrives to hold a minute of silence at the destroyed cathedral

Following the meeting, Al Sistani said he wanted Muslims and Christians to coexist in Iraq, and called on other religious leaders to hold great powers to account and for wisdom and sense to prevail over war.

Later in the day, Pope Francis will travel to the Christian village of Qaraqosh, where he will visit the Immaculate Conception Church, before heading back to Erbil to hold mass in the Franso Hariri stadium.

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2021-03-07 07:52:30Z
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COVID-19: Senate passes Joe Biden's $1.9trn coronavirus relief plan after all-night debate - Sky News

Joe Biden's $1.9trn (£1.4trn) COVID-19 relief plan has been passed by the Senate in a party-line vote after an all-night session.

The final bill includes $400bn (£289bn) in one-time payments of $1,400 (£1,000) to most Americans, $300 (£217) a week in extended jobless benefits for the 9.5 million people made unemployed, and $350bn (£253bn) in aid to state and local governments that have taken a huge hit in their budgets.

In brief remarks on Saturday, the president said the plan will help get relief cheques to Americans this month.

Image: The bill was passed after an all-night debate

He said he hopes for quick passage by the House of Representatives so he can sign the bill into law soon.

House majority leader Steny Hoyer said in a tweet that the House will vote on Tuesday on the Senate-passed bill.

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After passage by the House, it will be sent to Mr Biden, who hopes to sign the bill before enhanced jobless benefits expire on 14 March.

Image: Chuck Schumer says the bill was the 'prescription for getting the upper hand' against the pandemic

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The Senate voted 50-49, with no Republicans supporting what would be one of the largest stimulus packages in US history.

As the Senate was about to cast its vote, majority leader Chuck Schumer said the bill was the "prescription for getting the upper hand" against a pandemic that has killed more than 520,000 Americans.

"I want the American people to know that we're going to get through this and someday soon our businesses will reopen, our economy will reopen and life will reopen," he said.

Image: The president said the plan will help get relief cheques to Americans this month

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, however, had harsh words about the measure.

"The Senate has never spent $2trn in a more haphazard way or through a less rigorous process," he said.

Republicans had sought a new round of aid about one-third the size of Mr Biden's plan.

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2021-03-06 22:39:27Z
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COVID-19: UK records 158 deaths and 6,040 cases in latest 24-hour period - Sky News

The UK has recorded 158 coronavirus-related deaths and 6,040 cases in last 24-hour period, according to government figures.

The figures represent a drop from last Saturday (27 February), when 290 deaths and 7,434 coronavirus cases were reported.

It brings the UK total since the start of the pandemic to 124,419 deaths and 4,213,343 cases.

Meanwhile, a total of 22,887,118 COVID-19 jabs have been given in the UK so far, according to government data up to 5 March.

Of these, 21,796,278 were first doses - a rise of 437,463 on the previous day. Some 1,090,840 were second doses, an increase of 56,772.

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The Midlands have administered the most jabs of any English region, according to data from NHS England.

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In the region, between 8 December and 5 March, 3,603,903 first doses and 134,215 second doses were given, making a total of 3,738,118.

The South East is second with 2,980,223 first doses and 129,116 second doses given over the same period, equalling 3,109,339 jabs.

The South West has administered the least with 2,122,425 first and 92,461 second doses given, for a total of 2,214,886.

Ministers have said the UK is on track to vaccinate every adult at least once by the end of July.

Before then the government is aiming to vaccinate everyone in the first nine priority groups - equivalent to 32 million people - by 15 April.

This includes the clinically vulnerable and all over-50s.

It comes as a top scientist said she is "optimistic" the vaccination programme will allow Britain to ease virus restrictions by summer as planned.

Professor Sharon Peacock, who is in charge of tracking strains of the virus in Britain, told The Times that new variants are "very unlikely to send us back to square one", as the UK can "stay ahead" of the virus by adapting vaccines quickly.

Separately, a union has warned that large numbers of nurses could quit after the pandemic over the proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff.

Patricia Marquis, the RCN's South East regional director, said there was a "real risk" that "significant numbers of experienced, expert nurses will see the end of the pandemic [and think] that enough is enough".

The RCN has set up a £35m industrial action fund - threatening to take strike action - over the pay hike proposed by the government, while another union has urged the public to support a slow hand clap next week mocking the proposals.

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2021-03-06 16:21:52Z
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COVID-19: Greece invites Britons to start booking holidays as it targets 40 islands for vaccinations - Sky News

Greece's tourism minister has said Britons hoping for a summer holiday in the country can start booking as it prioritises giving the COVID vaccine to the inhabitants of around 40 small islands.

The islands, which each have a population of less than 1,000 people, include Halki near Rhodes, Kastellorizo off the Turkish coast, Meganisi in the Ionian Sea and Kythira in the Peloponnese peninsula, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Larger destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu will be targeted once Greece's tiniest islands have been vaccinated, the newspaper said.

However, UK government has said the earliest date people from England can travel abroad for a holiday is 17 May - that is provided the four tests for easing lockdown are met.

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Image: The island of Halki is among those being targeted for vaccinations in Greece

Greek tourism minister Harry Theoharis told the Telegraph: "If you're going to send a medical team to an island with a small population, it makes sense to vaccinate not just the elderly and vulnerable, but everyone.

"We're vaccinating everyone on islands that have a population of less than 1,000 inhabitants."

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Elderly people and the most vulnerable have been the first to be offered the COVID-19 vaccine in Greece, with Mr Theoharis telling the Telegraph it is now "a priority to vaccinate the tourist islands".

"We want to vaccinate people working in the tourism sector, from hotel staff and waiters to tourist guides and drivers," he added.

Mr Theoharis did not state when the vaccine rollout on the islands would be completed, saying the pace of progress "depends on how many vaccines we receive in a couple of months' time".

Image: The inhabitants of the Greek island of Meganisi are being prioritised for vaccinations

He added that Britons wanting to enter Greece this summer will need one of the following: a certificate showing they have been vaccinated; proof that they have antibodies against the virus; or a test to show they are negative.

Mr Theoharis told the Telegraph that Greece would "try to make it as smooth and hassle-free as possible", adding: "They can book flights and start choosing the places where they want to go."

More than one million people in Greece have received the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine, with 356,000 people having had both doses, out of a population of 11 million people.

The number of coronavirus cases is still high in Greece, with 2,702 new infections recorded on Wednesday - a record daily figure so far this year.

Greece has eased restrictions for vaccinated Israelis and is discussing a similar arrangement with the UK.

The UK government is set to discuss with the EU the bloc's proposals to create a vaccine passport that could allow people to travel more freely in time for the summer holidays.

The EU-wide "digital green pass" would provide proof a person has been vaccinated, as well as test results for those not yet inoculated and information on recovery for people who have had COVID-19.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the proposals for the pass, which will "respect data protection, security and privacy", will be set out this month.

Compared to the UK, the EU's rollout of coronavirus vaccines has been slow.

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EU leaders agreed last month to work on vaccine certificates, with southern European countries including Spain and Greece pushing to unlock tourism this summer.

However, a number of nations say before that, it needs to be established that vaccinated people cannot transmit COVID-19 to others.

Some countries, such as France and Belgium, have also expressed concern that easing travel only for inoculated people would be unfair.

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2021-03-06 13:18:45Z
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