Pope Francis departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq (photos)
The pope left Rome early Friday for the four-day journey, after boarding a flight at Leonardo da Vinci airport bound for the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
After his arrival in Iraq, the Pope will travel more than 870 miles by plane and helicopter, flying over areas where security forces are still battling IS remnants, Mail Online reports.
Pope Francis departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq (photos)
For shorter trips, Francis will take an armoured car on paved roads that will be lined with flowers and posters welcoming the leader known there as ‘Baba Al-Vatican’.
