welcome to our viewers around the world i'm michel oku pope francis is scheduled to visit mosul today the one time stronghold of the so-called islamic state as part of his historic visit to iraq he's currently in the city of erbil where the christian community suffered at the hands of the terrorist group despite the pandemic the pope plans to celebrate mass for an expected crowd of 10. 1000 people in a sports stadium people have been gathering for that event ahead of the pope's arrival. the pope is now heading to mosul a former stronghold of the so-called islamic state of course i'm joined now by correspondent oh in the whole the way what's pope francis's main message in northern iraq today i think the air as you said in your introduction. there. to keep your eyes the islamic state in in 20222015 to 2017 when for the for a cluster them for the christmas you typically was it was devastated certain areas that the pope people seemed to see the area of our caution later after leaving mosul strong critic christian me to a lot of the christians there and came to feel so i think it's but the

and a warm welcome to our viewers around the world i'm michel oku we start in iraq where pope francis is visiting the city of mosul the one time stronghold of the so-called islamic state as part of his historic visit to the country francis offered prayers outside a centuries old church for those he called the victims of war in the northern iraqi city which was heavily damaged while under isis control despite the pandemic the pope also plans to celebrate mass in the city of erbil later today for an expected crowd of 10000 people. i'm joined by correspondent oren hold away with more when what's the pontiff's main message for the people of northern iraq today i think particularly the christian community of northern iraq which would devastate with the war against the islamic states is misuse of is there is of solidarity or all of the extras for the course of most one particular time of terra cotta which would be busy which is a predominantly students is really a message of solidarity and also it's a message that if that sunni suneet meets in that region in of are that that you know that t