Pope Mourns Those Killed at Market Explosion in Baghdad, Iraq

18 April, 2026

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Leo XIV

21 July, 2021

1 min

Pope Mourns Those Killed at Market Explosion in Baghdad, Iraq

'Renews Fervent Prayers That No Act of Violence Will Diminish Efforts to Promote Peace in Iraq'

Pope in Iraq - Copyright: Vatican Media

Pope Francis is mourning the lives lost in the latest terroristic act in Iraq, and is renewing his appeals for peace in the country he visited earlier this year.

In a telegram sent to the Apostolic Nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, on the Pope’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope says he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the July 19 explosion at the al-Wuhailat market in the nation’s capital of Baghdad.

After entrusting the lives lost to the mercy of Almighty God, Francis “renews his fervent appeal that no act of violence will diminish the efforts of those striving to promote reconciliation and peace in Iraq.”

Below is the Vatican-provided text of the telegram of condolences:

Telegram

THE MOST REVEREND MITJA LESKOVAR
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN IRAQ
BAGHDAD

HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE LOSS OF LIFE IN THE EXPLOSION AT THE AL-WUHAILAT MARKET IN BAGHDAD AND HE SENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED. ENTRUSTING THEIR SOULS TO THE MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS HOLINESS RENEWS HIS FERVENT PRAYERS THAT NO ACT OF VIOLENCE WILL DIMINISH THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO STRIVE TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION AND PEACE IN IRAQ.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE

[Original text: English]

Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Editorial Director & Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for EXAUDI (& Prior, for ZENIT); Author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/