Pope Francis will visit Iraq despite security concerns according to his representative in the country.
Archbishop Giorgio Lingua said the pontiff had made no plans to date but that the Holy Father was "expected in Iraq, both by the Church and the political power, and even by non-Christians such as the Shi'ite leadership".
He told Aid to the Church in Need: "I am impressed how great the consensus is concerning the figure of the Pope."
The Pope had previously said he would like to visit Iraq as the country battles with Jihadists.
Islamic State militants have murdered thousands of Christians and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
The group is trying to impose a caliphate ruled by strict Sharia law.
Archbishop Lingua accepted security concerns could prevent a papal trip to Iraq, "but everybody says that they would do everything to make the visit a success," he said.
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