What is driving Pope Francis to enter a war zone, during a global pandemic?

Pope Francis' remarks from his general audience on Wednesday, March 3.

Pope Francis is making history with his trip to Iraq. Follow along.

Pope Francis, by visiting a Shia majority country, completes his pastoral embrace of the Islamic world, begun two years ago with his trip to Abu Dhabi when he met with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb.

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI marked the eighth anniversary of his resignation by insisting he stepped down knowingly and that “there is only one pope”—Francis.

Infectious disease experts are expressing concern about Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Iraq, given a sharp rise in coronavirus infections there, a fragile health care system and the unavoidable likelihood that Iraqis will crowd to see him.