Vatican City, Feb 26, 2020 / 14:00 pm
Pope Francis said Wednesday that he is praying for the people of Iraq, and repeated his desire to visit the country.
Speaking to pilgrims from the Middle East during his general audience address, the pope gave a special welcome to people from Iraq, who he said were present in a "nice group."
"Citizens of Iraq, I tell you I am very close to you. You are in a battlefield, you suffer a war, from one side and the other," Francis said Feb. 26.
The pope said he is praying for peace in Iraq and referred to his hope to visit the country in 2020.