| Pope Francis visits the home of the Shi’ite Supreme Minister of Ayatollah Ali Alsistani in Najaf, Iraq on March 6, 2021. © Reuters = News1 © News1 Reporter Seoyoon Choi |
Pope Francis (84) met with Ayatollah Ali Alsistani (90), the highest Shi’ite priest in Iraq on the 6th, and strongly appealed for coexistence in a land divided by sectarianism and violence. It also urged religious communities to cooperate.
This is the first time in Catholic history in 2000 that the Catholic Pope has met a high-ranking Shi’ite priest. Iraqi state-run Ekbariya TV is also focusing on the’Meetings between Religious Leaders of the Century’ along the path of the Pope.
According to AFP and Reuters, the two met for 50 minutes at Sistani’s house in Najaf’s Holy Land on the morning of the second day of their visit to Iraq. Media describe the house the two met as old and shabby.
As Sistani rarely shows up on public appearances, the meeting was held privately without allowing media coverage.
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| March 5, 2021 (local time) Citizens attend a celebration in the square of Karakosh, north of Mosul, prior to Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq for the first time in the history of Catholicism in 2000. © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Dongmyeong Woo |
The Pontifical Office issued a statement shortly after the meeting and said that Pope Francis “emphasized the importance of cooperation and friendship between religious communities so that they can contribute to the interests of Iraq and the region by fostering mutual respect and dialogue.” The Pope has visited Islamic countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates and Palestine since the 2013 throne, calling for interreligious dialogue.
Iraqi Shi’ite Chief Minister’s Office also issued a statement and said that Sistani “confirmed the concern that Catholic citizens should fully enjoy constitutional rights like all Iraqis and live peacefully and safely.” “Religion and spiritual leadership should play a role in stopping tragedy. In particular, we must urge the powerful nations to spread their wisdom and rationale and erase the language of war.”
A photo of Pope Francis and Sistani sitting face to face with their masks removed was also revealed. Sistani dressed in black, and the Pope dressed in white, staring at each other.
Sistani is one of the most important figures not only in Iraq but also in Shi’ite Islam, and is not only respected by the people, but also exerts a powerful political influence. While Saddam Hussein was in power, he was under house arrest.
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| Pope Francis arrives at Ur, an ancient archaeological site near Ur in Nasiriyah, Ayrak on March 6, 2021, and prays between religions. © Reuters = News1 © News1 Reporter Seoyoon Choi |
Pope Francis also visited the ruins of Ur in southern Iraq, revered as the birthplace of Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, after meeting Sistani that day. The state-run Ekbariya TV was broadcasted.
The Pope arrived at the capital Baghdad International Airport at 1:55 pm the previous day by private plane. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met the Pope himself. This visit to Iraq will continue for four days until the 8th.
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| Pope Francis arrives at Ur, an ancient archaeological site near Ur, near Nasiriyah, Iraq on March 6, 2021, and is praying between religions and is reported on Iraqi state-run Ekhbariya TV. © Reuters = News1 © News1 Reporter Seoyoon Choi |
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