Iraqis prepare to welcome Pope to Baghdad

Pope Francis gives a blessing as he prepares to fly to Baghdad from Fiumicino’s International airport Leonardo da Vinci, near Rome (Cecilia Fabiano/ LaPresse/AP)

Dozens of Christians were arriving at a church in Baghdad hours before Pope Francis was due to land in Iraq for a first papal visit to the country.

Men, women and children gathered inside the Church of the Virgin Mary early on Friday morning.