By Carol Glatz Pope Francis smiles after delivering his speech by video from the Vatican to religious leaders attending the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 3 December, 2023. Pope Francis cancelled his trip to Dubai because of a bronchial infection. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media The world needs people to build alliances ...

With sporadic violence continuing in Iraq, Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq from 5 to 8 March involved a massive security operation with the deployment of thousands of police and military officers. Even the Vatican police and Swiss Guards wore bulletproof vests under their dark suits, an unusual practice on a papal trip.