President Michel Aoun welcomed the historic visit of Pope Francis on Friday to Iraq, the National News Agency reported.

Aoun hoped the visit would constitute a push to establish real peace much-needed by Iraqis as well as the rest of the peoples of the region.

“Welcome His Holiness, Pope Francis, on the land of the Levant, the land that has always been a foothold for civilizations, religions and cultures,” said Aoun in a tweet.

“We sincerely hope His Holiness’s visit to Mesopotamia will give impetus to the establishment of real peace that the people of Iraq need as well as all the peoples of the region,” he added.

The Pope landed in Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to make his first-ever papal visit.