Biden: Iraq is a country steeped in religious and ethnic diversity

INA – BAGHDAD
The official White House website published an official statement by US President Joe Biden on Pope Francis' historic visit to Iraq.
“Iraq is a country steeped in religious and ethnic diversity. It’s also home to one of the oldest and most diverse Christian communities in the world,” said Biden.
He pointed at the Pope Francis’ visit as a historic and welcome first for the country and that it sent an important message where he quoted Pope Francis saying that “fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than death, that peace more powerful than war.”
“To see Pope Francis visit ancient religious sites, including the biblical birthplace of Abraham, spend time with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, and offer prayers in Mosul — a city that only a few years ago endured the depravity and intolerance of a group like ISIS — is a symbol of hope for the entire world,” he added.
The US president congratulated the Government and people of Iraq for the care and planning that went into organizing this “monumental” visit, and “continue to admire Pope Francis for his commitment to promoting religious tolerance, the common bonds of our humanity, and interfaith understanding”