Prime Minister invites Pope to visit Iraq

According to Catholic media in Germany, the invitation was made during the course of a visit the Nuncio made to the Prime Minister in the wake of attacks on seven churches and convents in Baghdad and Mosul.

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - The Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq, Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, met this week with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri el Maliki, who extended an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit the country.

According to Catholic media in Germany, the invitation was made during the course of a visit the Nuncio made to the Prime Minister in the wake of attacks on seven churches and convents in Baghdad and Mosul.

"The atmosphere felt in Iraq right now is very tense and violent," said the reports, "as there were recently attacks against Catholic churches and the killing of US soldiers continues to increase."

"According to statistics of the World Organization of Health, as of June 2006 some 151,000 people have died in the Iraqi conflict."

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