Nuncio in Iraq says no plans for Pope to visit the country

Rome, Italy, May 5, 2009 / 11:39 am

The Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan, Archbishop Francis A. Chullikat, told the Italian agency SIR that Pope Benedict XVI does not have any plans to visit Iraq in May, despite comments made by some Iraqi lawmakers.

Instead, the nuncio said, the Pope will meet in Amman, Jordan with a group of Chaldean bishops as part of his trip to the Holy Land, which begins on May 8.

The archbishop said, “Perhaps people have heard reports, but we need to say that these kinds of announcements are issued beforehand by the Holy See, at least two months ahead of time. As far as I know, there is no such plan.”

However, Archbishop Chullikat, “On the other hand it is confirmed that Benedict XVI will hold a meeting with an official delegation of Chaldean (Catholic) bishops, led by Patriarch (Emmanuel) Cardinal Delly of Baghdad, which will take place in Amman (Jordan) on the occasion of his Apostolic Visit, which begins on Friday.”