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Pope Francis has met with a senior Shiite cleric as part of a historic trip to Iraq.
The March 6 meeting with Aystollah Ali al-Sistani took place in the holy city of Najaf, as the Pope attempted to send a message of peaceful coexistence and support for the Christian minority in Iraq. The visit was broadcast live on Iraqi television, and residents were seen greeting the meeting between the leaders of the two religions. Al-Sistani is an important figure among the Shiite minority in Iraq and is respected by the Shiite world. Following the closed-door meetings, al-Sistani issued a statement saying that Christians in Iraq should live in peace and enjoy the same rights as other Iraqis.
The Vatican, on the other hand, has said that Pope Francis thanked al-Sistan and the Shiite people for “raising the voice in defense of those who are weaker and more persecuted”. The Christian minority in Iraq was once estimated at 1.4 million.
But as a result of the conflict, it is now believed that there are about 300,000 Christians in Iraq, most of whom have been displaced from their homes. Iraqis have welcomed the visit and the international attention given to their country, which tends to recover from decades of war and unrest. Other Muslim-majority countries that Pope Francis has visited in the past include Turkey, Jordan, Azerbaijan and the Palestinian territories.
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