Pope Francis returns to Italy after historic Iraq visit

BAGHDAD, Iraq

Pope Francis returned Monday to Italy following his historic four-day visit to Iraq.

Francis was sent off with an official farewell ceremony held at Baghdad International Airport. Iraqi President Barham Saleh accompanied the pontiff to the plane.

The four-day visit from March 5-8 covered five Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, Erbil, Mosul, Najaf and Nasiriyah.

It was the first-ever visit by a pope to Iraq and the pontiff's first foreign tour since the global outbreak of coronavirus last year.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz