Pope Francis will star in a historic event – framed in itself in a trip of similar dimensions through Iraq

This Saturday, Pope Francis will star in a historic event – framed in itself in a trip of similar dimensions through Iraq – by being the first Catholic pontiff to visit and officiate an interfaith mass in Ur, the city considered the home of the prophet Abraham.

Francisco is on an apostolic visit to Iraq, which began this Friday and will last until Monday 8. This tour is considered one of the most important in recent years due to the turbulent times that the Asian country is going through.

Iraqi Christian communities – a minority religion in Iraq, where only 1.5% of the population profess this religion – have been persecuted, discriminated against and displaced after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and, especially, with the appearance of jihadist groups. like the Islamic State.

It is estimated that this terrorist organization was responsible for the flight of more than 100,000 Christians from the Nineveh region, the cradle of this religion in the country, in addition to the destruction of temples and houses occupied by those who profess this faith.

With the defeat of the self-proclaimed caliphate of the Islamic State in 2017, the road back seems to be timidly rebuilding for the Iraqi Christian community. That is why the visit of the Pope, the highest authority of the Catholic Church, plays a fundamental role in this process.

Pope Francis is received by Iraqi President Barham Salih during the official welcome held at the Government Palace in Baghdad. (Photo: Ahmed Jalil / EFE)

The land of Abraham

300 kilometers south of the capital, Baghdad, is Ur of the Chaldeans, whose construction dates back to around 4,000 BC, then as part of lower Mesopotamia.

Framed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Ur based its economy on intensive agriculture. In addition, it is considered that the Ubaidians were among the first to use brick and ceramics for this activity.

An aerial view of the ruins of the historic city of Ur of the Chaldeans, where the prophet Abraham is believed to have been born and spent much of his life. (Photo: Asaad Niazi / AFP)

The first studies in the area were carried out by the archaeologist HR Hall in 1919 and were taken up again in 1922 by the also archaeologist and historian Leonard Woolley, with the support of the British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania.

The excavations unearthed 16 tombs of Ur’s elite, showing that it was one of the great urban centers of the Sumerian civilization and that it remained a strategic point until the arrival of Alexander the Great, according to an article published by Vatican News.

In 2016, Unesco chose the archaeological site of Ur as a Mixed Heritage of Humanity.

An aerial view of the archaeological site of Ur de los Chaldeos, considered by UNESCO as a Mixed Heritage of Humanity since 2016. (Photo: Mohammed Aty / Reuters)

Vatican News also details that the exact name “Ur of the Chaldeans” appears twice in the biblical book of Genesis, specifically in chapters 11 and 15.

(* Haran is Abraham’s brother, as specified in the same chapter).

However, the place is not only present in the holy Catholic book. “Woolley discovered a site that was mentioned religiously in the Torah, along with other clues that confirmed that this house belonged to the prophet Abraham through the sacred artifacts found inside, among other remains.“Iraqi historian Ali al Namshi explained to the EFE agency.

The specialist adds that the place also has great importance for Muslims.

The figure of the prophet Abraham is respected in the three religions (Catholic, Jewish and Islamic), mainly because he is considered the first monotheist and a faithful follower of God or Allah. Therefore, there could not be a better place for Francis to celebrate the Interreligious meeting. , announced in their official travel program for this Saturday.

With this visit, in addition, the Supreme Pontiff will fulfill the desire expressed by his predecessor Saint John Paul II in June 1999, when through a letter he made a record of his desire to visit Ur of the Chaldeans the following year. The turbulent scenario at the time, however, frustrated his desire.