Pope Francis's Visit to Iraq Medal
The Vatican has minted a special bronze medal to commemorate Pope Francis's visit to Iraq. Vatican sources said the medal will be one of the gifts the Catholic Church leader will present to Iraqi representatives he will meet during his four-day visit, which begins on Friday.
The medal was designed by artists from the Vatican Post Office's branch dedicated to stamps and coins. It features a map of Iraq, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, a palm tree, and an image representing the Prophet Abraham leaving the city of Ur in the ancient Sumerian state of Mesopotamia, carrying a staff, where it is believed the Prophet was born.
The lower part of the medal bears an inscription of the dates of the Apostolic Visit (March 5-8) in Latin, the official language of the Vatican. At the top, the medal is inscribed with “Visit to Irakiam,” a Latin phrase meaning “visit to Iraq.”.
The Vatican Post Office's branch dedicated to stamps and coins produces a special medal for each papal trip. This will be the 33rd medal since Pope Francis's election. It will not be for sale. It is not yet known whether the Vatican Post Office will issue a special stamp for the occasion.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Pope's visit "represents a historic event and is supportive of all Iraqis from all sectors." It also represents a message of peace for Iraq and the entire region, affirming a unified humanitarian stance against extremism and conflict, and promoting diversity, tolerance, and coexistence.
Christians comprise approximately 1% of Iraq's population, representing a significant portion of the country's religious communities. The country has witnessed a mass exodus of Christians in recent years, as Iraq has been plagued by cycles of violence, including the rise of ISIS. Extremist groups have repeatedly targeted churches since the 2003 US-led invasion, which triggered more than a decade of civil unrest.
