Pope Francis holds historic, symbolic meeting with top Iraq Shiite cleric
By Nicole Winfield and Qassim Abdul-zahra
Published
Pope Francis arrives in Iraq
Pope Francis landed in Baghdad on March 5 for a historic visit to rally the country s dwindling Christian population. (Credit: Vatican News via Storyful)
PLAINS OF UR, Iraq (AP) - Pope Francis and Iraq s top Shiite cleric delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence Saturday, urging Muslims in the war-weary Arab nation to embrace Iraq’s long-beleaguered Christian minority during a historic meeting in the holy city of Najaf.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said religious authorities have a role in protecting Iraq’s Christians, and that Christians should live in peace and enjoy the same rights as other Iraqis. The Vatican said Francis thanked al-Sistani for having raised his voice in defense of the weakest and most persecuted during some of the most violent times in Iraq’s recent history.
Pope Francis holds historic, symbolic meeting with top Iraq Shiite cleric
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Pope Francis holds historic, symbolic meeting with top Iraq Shiite cleric
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In visit to Baghdad, Pope Francis urges Iraq to embrace its Christians
By Nicole Winfield and Samya Kullab
Published
Pope Francis arrives in Iraq
Pope Francis landed in Baghdad on March 5 for a historic visit to rally the country s dwindling Christian population. (Credit: Vatican News via Storyful)
BAGHDAD (AP) - Pope Francis opened the first-ever papal visit to Iraq on Friday with a plea for the country to protect its centuries-old diversity, urging Muslims to embrace their Christian neighbors as a precious resource and asking the embattled Christian community though small like a mustard seed to persevere.
Francis brushed aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to resume his globe-trotting papacy after a yearlong hiatus spent under COVID-19 lockdown in Vatican City. His primary aim over the weekend is to encourage Iraq’s dwindling Christian population, which was violently persecuted by the Islamic State group and still faces discrimination by the Muslim