Day 356 Sunday March 7th, 2021

"Do not stop dreaming! Do not give up! Do not lose hope!" Francis urged those gathered. "Now is the time to rebuild and to start afresh."

Day 3 of Pope Francis' historic visit to Iraq. Some of his words to the people:

"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."

"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."

"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."

“Hope cannot be silenced by the blood spilled by those who pervert the name of God to pursue paths of destruction".

"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.

"If God is the God of love - for so he is -

then it is wrong for us to hate our brothers and sisters."

"Iraq will always remain with me, in my heart".

Salaam, Salaam, Salaam

Peace, Peace, Peace

- Pope Francis

Pope Francis Videos on YouTube:

Pope arrives to celebrate largest mass of historic Iraq trip | AFP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtyGoG5h5Xg

How significant is Pope Francis's visit to Iraq? | Inside Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHhKBOm5n6E

https://youtu.be/FrjZvQ1HSQE