Pope Francis poses with faithful from Iraq in St. Peter's Square during his weekly audience on February 26, 2020 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Franco Origlia
Pope Francis poses with faithful from Iraq in St. Peter's Square during his weekly audience on February 26, 2020 in Vatican City, Vatican.

The March 5-8 pilgrimage aims to facilitate Francis’ push toward global human fraternity and help Iraqi Christians, but mounting COVID restrictions and recent bomb attacks are leading to increasing calls for the visit to be postponed.