VATICAN (CNS): Two days after the Iraqi government announced stringent Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) precautions, including the closure of mosques and churches “until further notice,” the prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, met with Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, the Vatican nuncio, to discuss the scheduled visit of Pope Francis from March 5 to 8.
The pope has events planned in churches each day of his visit.
The prime minister chaired a meeting on February 13 of the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, which responded to a rising number of Covid-19 infections with new restrictions including a “total curfew” from Friday to Sunday and an 8.00pm to 5am curfew the rest of the week from February 18 to March 8. Grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies are exempt.
In addition to the closure of all mosques and churches, the government banned public funerals and weddings in event halls, and ordered the closure of hair salons, gyms, parks and cinemas for two weeks. Schools are to move to an online format and restaurants are allowed to provide delivery service only.
According to the Worldometer Covid-19 tracker, Iraq had been experiencing a daily increase of new Covid-19 infections since February 1. As of February 17, the tracker indicated that Iraq had a cumulative total of 649,982 cases since the pandemic began a year earlier and 13,192 deaths. With just over 26,990 active cases on February 17, the situation is much better than in early October, when the number of active cases peaked at just over 63,000.
The Vatican did not comment on how the new restrictions would impact the planned trip—which could be postpone—or the activities of the pope, the small entourage of Vatican officials expected to travel with him and the 75 journalists accredited to the papal flight.
Pope Francis and all those travelling with him have received are scheduled to receive their second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine at least a week before the trip is to begin.
In line with current health recommendations, they still would be required to be tested for Covid-19 before boarding the flight and to wear approved facemasks on the flight and while in Iraq.
Pope Francis on February 1 that unless there is a serious new wave of Covid-19 infections in Iraq, he had every intention of going ahead with his visit
Even if social distancing requirements mean most Iraqis will see the papal events only on television, he said, “they will see that the pope is there in their country.”
Pope Francis said, “I am the pastor of people who are suffering.”
