1. Does this news have biblical reference and implication? Defend your answer.

No, this news has nothing about biblical reference but has a biblical implication. As
we all know biblical reference is a citation about a certain passage that includes the
name, chapter and verse/s of the book in the Bible. An example is 1 Cor. 13:4, 15:12-
19. However, there is an information about Abraham that is recognized as the common
father of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, which is a biblical implication. In Romans
4:18, it was stated that Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the
father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”, and
this verse can somehow implicate to the information of the news.

2. What is your reflection on this development?

The country of Iraq has encountered so many wars that the lives of the people who
are defenseless were the ones who mostly payed the price. A country who first hand
experienced a war can leave a very traumatizing effect. Not to mention, that they
encounter not only a war but terrorisms as well. Pope Francis is eager to visit this
country to express his support to the people for the reconstruction of a country that was
devastated by war and terrorism and at the same time fulfill the wish of the late Pope
John Paul II.

I agree to what the Pope Francis said in his latest encyclical, Fratelli tutti, that “War
is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before
the forces of evil.” In lieu to this, I quote, “War may be the last resort of the government
to get and fight for what they want but will never be a solution to peace.” I understand
that those people who engage in war wanted to fight for their rights, but is it really
necessary to involve guns and other explosive weapons? They might win the war, but in
return, innocent men, women, and children will always live in fear for their lives.
Negotiating may never be easy but I believe that we can create peace without doing any
harm and damage to the people.

The visit of Pope will really strengthen the faith of the people. And I think this
development will help the country to start anew. I think that the Pope wants to comfort
the people and to unite all the religions to give them hope and an opportunity to rebuild
the people and the country, and also, to deliver a message not only for them, but to the
whole world. Pope John Paul II may not have the opportunity to fulfill this wish of his but
his determination to do so, touched the hearts of the people. We may have different
bitter experiences in life, but we should always remember that violence will never be an
answer to the problem. The past may leave them a big scar but with the Pope giving
faith and hope, I will anticipate for their better future where they will be able to live with
contentment and happiness.