"I am coming as a pilgrim, as a penitent pilgrim, to implore from the Lord forgiveness and reconciliation after years of war and terrorism, to beg from God the consolation of hearts and the healing of wounds". These were the words which Pope Francis caringly spoke in his video message which introduced his much bold and historic visit to Iraq, the first pope to visit this unsettled region of immense biblical relevance.

In the speeches he delivered during his apostolic journey to Iraq, from 5 till 8 March, one can notice an interesting catechesis on peace which Francis managed to weave wherever he went. Thus, it would be intriguing to follow this beautiful tapestry which the Holy Spirit gave us through this great, humble and magnificent life and spiritual educator as Pope Francis certainly is.

Authentic peace always seeks fraternity in its broader possible sense of the word. In his video message, just prior this muchneeded visit, the Holy Father said: "Yes, I am coming as a pilgrim of peace, seeking fraternity and prompted by the desire to pray together and to walk together, also with our brothers and sisters of other religious traditions, in the steps of Father Abraham, who joins in one family Muslims, Jews and Christians". The same message was repeated by the Holy Father when he addressed the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps present in Iraq on Friday 5 March: "May God grant that we journey together as brothers and sisters in 'the firm conviction that authentic teachings of religions invite us to remain rooted in the values of peace... mutual understanding, human fraternity and harmonious coexistence ( Document on Human Fraternity, Abu Dhabi, 4 February 2019)'".

Peace demands peaceful coexistence. How tragic it becomes when peace is purposely left out from the social scenario. Pope Francis explains the disastrous effects when such peace is neglected within the same speech when he said: "Over the past several decades, Iraq has suffered the disastrous effects of wars, the scourge of terrorism and sectarian conflicts often grounded in a fundamentalism incapable of accepting the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic and religious groups, different ideas and cultures. All this has brought in its wake death, destruction and ruin, not only materially: the damage is so much deeper if we think of the heartbreak endured by so many individuals and communities, and wounds that will take years to heal."

The author of real peace is Christ himself. "I come as a pilgrim of peace in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace", said the Pope. Moreover, peace has its servants, builders and makers who, in their ordinary lives, they enflesh peace. "May the voice of builders and peacemakers find a hearing! The voice of the humble, the poor, the ordinary men and women who want to live, work and pray in peace."

Peace calls also the international community to play its important and responsible role in its promotion. That is why the Holy Father augured that "the international community will not withdraw from the Iraqi people the outstretched hand of friendship and constructive engagement, but will continue to act in a spirit of shared responsibility with the local authorities, without imposing political or ideological interests". However, the diplomatic work, important as it might be, on its own gives little fruit if it is not accompanied by tangible work of solidarity, especially among the poor. Pope Francis said: "Here I cannot fail to mention the many agencies, including a number of Catholic agencies, that for many years have been committed to helping the people of this country. Meeting the basic needs of so many of our brothers and sisters is an act of charity and justice, and contributes to a lasting peace".

If God is peace those who are consecrated to Him by the baptismal consecration as well as with that special consecration of the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life are more than anyone called to be peacemakers, as Christ himself invites us to be in the Gospel. When meeting with bishops, priests, religious, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechesists at the Syro-Catholic Cathedral of "Our Lady of Salvation" in Baghdad on Friday 5 March, Pope Francis told them: "This evening I want to thank you for your efforts to be peacemakers, within your communities and with believers of other religious traditions, sowing seeds of reconciliation and fraternal coexistence that can lead to a rebirth of hope for everyone".

Finally, the promotion of peace is the bread and butter of the adherents of different religions. In his interreligious meeting at the Plain of Ur on 6 March Pope Francis said: "The way that heaven points out for our journey is another: the way of peace". Therefore, "there will be no peace without sharing and acceptance, without a justice that ensures equity and advancement for all, beginning with those most vulnerable. There will be no peace unless peoples extend a hand to other peoples. There will be no peace as long as we see others as them and not us. There will be no peace as long as our alliances are against others, for alliances of some against others only increase divisions. Peace does not demand winners or losers, but rather brothers and sisters who, for all the misunderstandings and hurts of the past, are journeying from conflict to unity".

When replying to the milliondollar question: 'from where does the journey of peace start?' Pope Francis gave the following reply: "From the decision not to have enemies. Anyone with the courage to look at the stars, anyone who believes in God, has no enemies to fight. He or she has only one enemy to face, an enemy that stands at the door of the heart and knocks to enter. That enemy is hatred. While some try to have enemies more than to be friends, while many seek their own profit at the expense of others, those who look at the stars of the promise, those who follow the ways of God, cannot be against someone, but for everyone. They cannot justify any form of imposition, oppression and abuse of power; they cannot adopt an attitude of belligerence"

Pope Francis' speeches in Iraq clearly show that his 15-month hiatus from international travel gave him that necessary impetus of getting well prepared spiritually, pastorally and diplomatically to be a strong catalyst for peace not merely in the Middle Eastern nation of Iraq and its region but also for every corner of our troubled globe. After all, is there a better attitude than this: We do not have enemies to hate but brothers and sisters to help and care for?