Vatican Delegation Visits Ayatollah Sistani Office
According to al-Sumaria TV, the 15-strong delegation was welcomed by the governor of Najaf and other officials at the city’s airport before going to the office of the top cleric.
The visit by comes ahead of a planned historic trip by Pope Francis to Iraq.
The Vatican delegation is in the Arab country to discuss preparations for the upcoming trip.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Iraq March 5-8 in what would be the first-ever papal trip to the country.
As well as meeting with Iraq’s religious and political leaders, Francis is due to preside over an interfaith meeting in Ur, the birthplace of Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham).
Iraqi President Barham Salih said in a post on Twitter when the trip was announced in December that the trip “will be a message of peace to Iraqis of all religions & serve to affirm our common values of justice & dignity.”
Also, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has said the visit will spread the spirit of brotherhood in Iraq and the region.
