Vatican City, Dec 1, 2019 / 06:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis said Sunday that he was grieved to hear of the deadly violence against protesters in Iraq and expressed his closeness to the entire Iraqi people.

“I am following the situation in Iraq with concern. I learned with grief that the protests in recent days have received a harsh reaction, which has caused dozens of victims. I pray for the dead and the wounded,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Dec. 1.