What is the context of Pope Francis' visit to Iraq?

• The country's largest demographic by religion (aside from Muslims) are Christians with adherents of the Chaldean Catholic Church having the biggest presence
• Christianity in some form has been present to the region of what is today Iraq since at least the 2nd century and potentially earlier
• Mesopotamia-Iraq was and is a highly plural society e.g. perhaps up to a 1/3rd of Baghdad's population was Jewish prior to World War One. Pope Francis has a particular interest in ecumenism and inter-religious relations.
• Christians are a minority in number but have held senior positions in local society and government for hundreds of years from the Sassanid era to rule by Saddam (e.g. Tariq Aziz).
• Francis is a Jesuit and the Jesuits have historically had a major presence to Baghdad, running a secondary school and university in the city from the 1930s-1960s. Alumni of which include Ayad Allawi, Ahmad Chalabi and Adel Abdul Mahdi.
• The Christian communities have been severely impacted since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and Pope Francis wishes to show solidarity with the persecuted churches: approximately 1mn Christians in 2003, now <250k.
• The diplomatic perspective: the Pope is both a religious leader and Head of State (of the Vatican). This is the first "state" visit to Iraq by a Pope in history. 

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