“Hopefully, the [Biden] administration can find a way to balance [policy priorities] so that Kurdistan isn’t a casualty from an effort to renew the nuclear deal.”
Pope Francis: Pilgrim of Peace | Opinion Callista Gingrich On 3/10/21 at 12:39 PM EST
From March 5-8, Pope Francis embarked upon a historic visit to Iraq, perhaps the most significant trip of his pontificate. The importance of this first-ever papal visit to Iraq, a country ravaged by war and violence, can hardly be overstated.
Iraq is home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Following years of conflict, however, that community has fallen from approximately 1.5 million prior to 2003 to 300,000 today. Since the Iraq War began in 2003, Christians have suffered persecution, violence and destruction. These horrors were made worse by ISIS militants, resulting in many Christians fleeing to escape the brutality.
Iraq: Pope Francis meets top Shia Muslim scholar Ayatullah Al-Sistani
Iraq: Pope Francis meets top Shia Muslim scholar Ayatullah Al-Sistani
7th Mar 2021
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AA): Pope Francis held a historic meeting on Saturday with Iraq’s top Shia Muslim scholar Ayatullah Ali Al-Sistani in the southern Najaf city.
The meeting came as part of the pontiff’s current visit to Iraq, which started on Friday.
A statement issued by Sistani’s office said the meeting “focused on challenges facing humanity and the role of faith in overcoming these challenges”.
“Many people in different countries suffer from injustice, oppression, poverty, religious and intellectual discrimination, suppression of basic freedoms and absence of religious justice,” the statement quoted Sistani as saying during the meeting.