Pope John Paul II’s planned trip to Iraq in December may not take place, according to Vatican officials. The pope was reportedly angered by a letter written by a group of Iraqi intellectuals and published last week by the Iraqi News Agency that accused the pope of planning to use the pilgrimage to the Patriarch Abraham’s birthplace to persuade Christians to forgive Jews for “atrocities” that included the killing of Jesus.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.