Palestine, Peaceful Coexistence Discussed in Ayatollah Sistani, Pope Meeting
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Pope Francis met in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, on Saturday morning.
The office of the senior cleric released a statement after the historic meeting, saying the two sides talked about major challenges humanity is facing today and the role of faith in God and commitment to ethical values in overcoming those challenges.
According to the statement, Ayatollah Sistani referred to the tragedies and problems that regional nations are facing, including wars, economic blockades and displacement of the people, especially what is happening to the people of Palestine.
He underlined the role of religious leaders in countering these problems, it said.
The statement added that Ayatollah Sistani also stressed the need for concerted efforts to promote values such as peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among followers of various faiths.
The cleric further underscored that Iraq’s Christian citizens should live in peace like other Iraqis and their rights should be respected.
The Vatican also released a statement about the meeting, which lasted for 45 minutes, saying that the Pope thanked Ayatollah Sistani and the Shia community for their support for the oppressed and for Iraq’s unity.
The pontiff also stressed the need for cooperation, friendship and dialogue among followers of different faiths, it noted.
Pope arrived in Baghdad on Friday and was welcomed by Iraqi President Barham Salih.
This is the first visit the pontiff has embarked on since the pandemic hit the world.
He told reporters on his plane that he felt duty-bound to make the “emblematic” trip because the country “has been martyred for so many years.”
In a speech after being welcomed by Salih, the pontiff called for an end to violence and extremism.
