Photos of the Week: Francis in Iraq, unrest in Myanmar

Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo gallery includes the first papal visit to Iraq, more unrest in Myanmar following the military coup and more.

(RNS) — Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo gallery includes the first papal visit to Iraq, more unrest in Myanmar following the military coup and more.

Pope Francis, center, delivers a speech during a meeting with bishops and priests, at the Sayidat al-Nejat (Our Lady of Salvation) Cathedral, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country's dwindling number of Christians to remain and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis, center, delivers a speech during a meeting with bishops and priests, at the Sayidat al-Nejat (Our Lady of Salvation) Cathedral, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to remain and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Nuns waves as Pope Francis leaves the Sayidat al-Nejat (Our Lady of Salvation) Cathedral, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country's dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Nuns wave as Pope Francis leaves the Sayidat al-Nejat (Our Lady of Salvation) Cathedral, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)


Pope Francis walks down the steps of an airplane as he arrives at Baghdad international airport, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis heads to Iraq to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis walks down the steps of an airplane as he arrives at Baghdad international airport, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A Christian priest Places a poster of the Pope Francis and a Vatican flag during preparations for the Pope's visit in Mar Youssif Church in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (AP/Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A Christian priest places a poster of the Pope Francis and a Vatican flag during preparations for the Pope’s visit in Mar Youssif Church in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (AP/Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Turkish army commanders pray as Turkish leaders, army commanders, family members and colleagues attend funeral prayers and a ceremony for 11 military personnel, including a high-ranking officer, at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque, in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, March 5, 2021. Turkish army officers were killed on Thursday when an army helicopter crashed in a snow-covered mountainous area in Bitlis, eastern Turkey. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish army commanders pray as Turkish leaders, army commanders, family members and colleagues attend funeral prayers and a ceremony for 11 military personnel, including a high-ranking officer, at Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque, in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, March 5, 2021. Turkish army officers were killed on Thursday when an army helicopter crashed in a snow-covered mountainous area in Bitlis, eastern Turkey. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Relatives and friends pray for one of three women working for a local radio and TV station who were killed on Tuesday, in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group, during her funeral ceremony in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. The coordinated killings were the latest in a bloody campaign against journalists . In the last six months, 15 journalists have been killed in a series of targeted killings. (AP Photo)

Relatives and friends pray for one of three women working for a local radio and TV station who were killed on Tuesday in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group, during her funeral ceremony in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. The coordinated killings were the latest in a bloody campaign against journalists . In the last six months, 15 journalists have been killed in a series of targeted killings. (AP Photo)

Bystanders flash a three-fingered sign of resistance as the body of Kyal Sin, also known by her Chinese name Deng Jia Xi, is driven out from the Yunnan Chinese temple in Mandalay, Myanmar, Thursday, March 4, 2021. Kyal Sin was shot in the head by Myanmar security forces during an anti-coup protest rally she was attending Wednesday. (AP Photo)

Bystanders flash a three-fingered sign of resistance as the body of Kyal Sin, also known by her Chinese name Deng Jia Xi, is driven out from the Yunnan Chinese temple in Mandalay, Myanmar, Thursday, March 4, 2021. Kyal Sin was shot in the head by Myanmar security forces during an anti-coup protest rally she was attending Wednesday. (AP Photo)

Myanmar nationals living in Thailand gesture with a three-finger sign of resistance during a candlelight vigil against the Myanmar military coup in front of the United Nations building in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Myanmar nationals living in Thailand gesture with a three-finger sign of resistance during a candlelight vigil against the Myanmar military coup in front of the United Nations building in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)


Family and relatives pray next to the body of a Muslim woman, who her family said was killed by the army Sunday, during her funeral service in Mandalay, Myanmar, Monday, March 1, 2021. Defiant crowds returned to the streets of Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon on Monday, determined to continue their protests against the military's seizure of power a month ago, despite security forces having killed at least 18 people around the country just a day earlier. (AP Photo)

Family and relatives pray next to the body of a Muslim woman during her funeral service in Mandalay, Myanmar, Monday, March 1, 2021. The woman’s family said she was killed by the army Sunday. Defiant crowds returned to the streets of Myanmar’s biggest city of Yangon on Monday, determined to continue their protests against the military’s seizure of power a month ago, despite security forces having killed at least 18 people around the country just a day earlier. (AP Photo)

Here are some of the thousands of refugees of Northern Vietnam who left their homes after communists took over the area under the terms of the Geneva Pact, circa 1954. Although the French sent all available shipping to help them, under international law the would-be refugees had to make their own way out. They did this, despite high seas and the frailest of craft, pushing their way to freedom in an evacuation that took several days. These refugees are shown after they were taken aboard the French ship "Jules Verne." Despite the hazardous voyage, one refugee was able to hold on to her belongings which she carried in baskets on her head. RNS archive photo. Photo courtesy of the Presbyterian Historical Society

Here are some of the thousands of refugees from Northern Vietnam who left their homes after communists took over the area under the terms of the Geneva Pact, circa 1954. Although the French sent all available shipping to help them, under international law the would-be refugees had to make their own way out. They did this despite high seas and the frailest of craft, pushing their way to freedom in an evacuation that took several days. These refugees are shown after they were taken aboard the French ship Jules Verne. Despite the hazardous voyage, one refugee was able to hold on to her belongings which she carried in baskets on her head. RNS archive photo. Photo courtesy of the Presbyterian Historical Society

The "Pilgrim Virgin," a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, is carried during a pilgrimage of 30,000 Catholics to a statue of Christ atop Sierra de Cristo Rey in El Paso, Texas, in November 1948. Once at the top of the mountain, pilgrims offered prayers for the conversion of Soviet Russia. The pilgrimage was the climad of a week-long visit of the "Pilgrim Virgin" to the El Paso area. RNS archive photo. Photo courtesy of the Presbyterian Historical Society

The “Pilgrim Virgin,” a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, is carried during a pilgrimage of 30,000 Catholics to a statue of Christ atop Sierra de Cristo Rey in El Paso, Texas, in November 1948. Once at the top of the mountain, pilgrims offered prayers for the conversion of Soviet Russia. The pilgrimage was the climax of a week-long visit of the “Pilgrim Virgin” to the El Paso area. RNS archive photo. Photo courtesy of the Presbyterian Historical Society

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