# Should Pope Francis go to Iraq? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884 "2014-08-19T08:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/1 "2014-08-19T08:43:03Z")
Pope Francis has said he is considering going to visit Catholic refugees in Iraq Would this be an appropriate and ethical thing to do? This is my first time posting in Great Debates so be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/2 "2014-08-19T08:56:04Z")
Perhaps I’ve missed some angle, but I don’t see how anyone could complain that it’s unethical for the Pope to visit a group of suffering Catholics. Now if he was planning to announce a new set of Holy Crusades, sure, but I’m not seeing that in the cards. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/3 "2014-08-19T11:34:02Z")
My concern would only be safety, not that it would be unethical for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![vietnamvet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/90db22/32.png) [@vietnamvet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vietnamvet)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/4 "2014-08-19T11:36:28Z")
but, Iraq is an artificial construct. Cobbled together by the English after WW2. It probably should be divided into 3 countries. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/5 "2014-08-19T12:24:53Z")
Which is relevant to the question posed in the OP in what way? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/6 "2014-08-19T13:03:00Z")
> [@vietnamvet](#): > > but, Iraq is an artificial construct. Cobbled together by the English after WW2. > It probably should be divided into 3 countries. Even if true, that’s hardly a reason not to visit it. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/7 "2014-08-19T13:12:04Z")
Seems like the sort of thing a Pope should do. Maybe he could even offer some real help, as opposed to the “spiritual” kind. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/8 "2014-08-19T13:18:14Z")
It’s not unethical and might comfort those Catholic refugees, but otherwise it won’t do much good. Iraqis who care what the Pope thinks are bound to be a small minority. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/9 "2014-08-20T00:10:42Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > My concern would only be safety, not that it would be unethical for some reason. I agree, it’s not just the pope’s safety I’m worried about, but the safety of those around him. ISIS will definately step up their attacks on the refugees if they have a chance to kill the biggest infidel in the world. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/10 "2014-08-20T23:24:00Z")
It would be a ballsy move, and Frankie has the balls for it. I think he should go, but I was raised to admire people who risk death to make a point. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/11 "2014-08-21T00:11:26Z")
It’s kinda funny that he thinks all his talk talk might accomplish something or even matters to anybody. He’s a threat to edge out John Kerry for the Nobel Prize for just don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/12 "2014-08-21T02:17:19Z")
I think his aim is three-fold: To give the refugees some moral support by showing them they are not alone; to remind the world that the problems in the ME are not limited to the Shias, Sunnis, and Jews and there are Christians getting fucked with, which might get the Christian countries more involved; and to stick a big, “innocent” thumb in the eye of ISIL. Rome and the Caliphates rarely played nicely with each other, and grudges run deep and long. The Pope is still big magic in a lot of places, places that are better armed than ISIL. ---
**Author:** ![EndlessEntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f9ae1b/32.png) [@EndlessEntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EndlessEntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/13 "2014-08-21T02:22:25Z")
Sure, it’s his choice. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/14 "2014-08-21T02:45:15Z")
That’s practically egging on radical Islamists who are thus far willing to kill Christians who don’t convert. I consider it irresponsible. Does the pope think he’s going to convince them to stop killing Christians? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/15 "2014-08-21T03:40:14Z")
I don’t know what he’s thinking beyond showing the Papal flag, plus sunshine, lollipops, and roses. What I do know is that for a lot of people over there the Crusades never ended–note the shitstorm when Bush II described the invasion of Iraq as a “crusade.” I also know is that il Papa is playing a dangerous game, and I assume he knows it and has a plan. It may not be a GOOD plan, but it’s a plan, and I’m willing at this point to back most any plan, 'cuz there aren’t many out there. If it works he can then help Israel and Palestine work things out because there are still Christians on both sides of the line. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/16 "2014-08-21T17:06:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Which is relevant to the question posed in the OP in what way? The OP asked if it would be “appropriate”. I think that’s broad enough to cover safety concerns. I don’t really understand why it might be unethical either; my first reaction was “I hope he doesn’t get killed.” Of course, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t go. ---
**Author:** ![nani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nani)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/17 "2014-08-21T22:18:21Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I don’t know what he’s thinking beyond showing the Papal flag, plus sunshine, lollipops, and roses. What I do know is that for a lot of people over there the Crusades never ended–note the shitstorm when Bush II described the invasion of Iraq as a “crusade.” I also know is that il Papa is playing a dangerous game, and I assume he knows it and has a plan. It may not be a GOOD plan, but it’s a plan, and I’m willing at this point to back most any plan, 'cuz there aren’t many out there. > > If it works he can then help Israel and Palestine work things out because there are still Christians on both sides of the line. The crusades weren’t really a big deal in the Islamic world until relatively recently. ‘They’ won (thanks in large part to Baibars massacring and enslaving (ETA: obviously not all of, but a huge amount of) the Christians in the area), so why should they have cared? If the Pope goes, I also have no idea how it will turn out. I doubt he is afraid of the danger but if something happened, I can’t imagine what the aftermath would be. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/18 "2014-08-21T23:38:04Z")
I think it would be a great thing for him to go. But he’d be a huge terrorist target. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pope-francis-go-to-iraq/695884/19 "2014-12-01T22:04:25Z")
[Update: He ended up visiting Iraqi refugees in Turkey](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2854925/Pope-says-Islamist-violence-Syria-Iraq-grave-sin-against-God.html)