From security threats to COVID, Iraqis face challenges as they plan to host Pope Francis

A major concern has been Iraq's second wave of Covid-19, with around 4,000 new cases registered daily in the country of 40 million people. Among those who tested positive just days before the pontiff's arrival was the Vatican's ambassador to Iraq, Mitja Leskovar. The pope, 84, his staff and the dozens of journalists who will travel with him have been vaccinated, but no inoculation drive has yet been launched in Iraq.

To stem the spread of the virus, authorities imposed overnight curfews as well as full lockdowns on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the three days of the pope's visit this week. "The lockdown will be extended to include the entirety of the pope's visit, and security forces will be deployed to secure the streets," said Iraq's deputy foreign minister Nizar Khairallah. Authorities have also barred travel between Iraq's provinces to keep down crowds, which are expected to be much thinner than the usual mass gatherings that welcome a visiting pope.

The prayer services he will host are ticketed events with limited seating, and church officials have told AFP they would implement strict social distancing and require all guests to disinfect regularly. That hasn't quieted excitement for the "Baba," Arabic for pope. Baghdad is being spruced up accordingly: church bells are being repaired, new power lines strung up and political and military posters are being replaced with colourful banners welcoming the pope.

"We wanted to fix a few things so that this historic city, this symbol of humanity, can host the pope," Baghdad mayor Alaa Maan told AFP. Iraq has long been synonymous with conflict, and unrest has again rocked the country in the run-up to the papal visit. Francis will cover more than 1,445 kilometres (around 900 miles) by plane and helicopter, flying directly over areas that recently saw fighting against jihadist sleeper cells. He will visit Baghdad and Arbil, the capital of the northern Kurdish region -- both of which were shaken by rocket attacks in mid-February against Western targets.