During the visit, Francis will meet Christian communities and the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the world’s most influential Muslim leaders.

Pope Francis’s 33rd visit abroad in his eight years at the head of the Roman Catholic church will begin in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, with a ceremony at the presidential palace and a meeting with President Barham Salih and prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Pope Francis will visit Erbil on March 7, where he will meet the religious and civil authorities of the Kurdistan region.

Pope is expected to voice solidarity with Christian communities and the rest of Iraq's 40 million people during an intense week of visits nationwide. (ILKHA)