NAJAF, Iraq (AP) – Pope Francis met on Saturday with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the oldest clerics of Shiite Islam, in the holy city of Iraq, Najaf, to send a joint message of peaceful coexistence, and urged Muslims to embrace the long period — besieged Christian minority.
The closed-door meeting addressed issues affecting the Iraqi Christian minority. Al-Sistani is a deeply revered figure in Shiite-majority Iraq and his views on religious and other issues are sought after by Shiites around the world.
For Iraq’s declining Christian minority, a show of al-Sistani solidarity could help secure its place in Iraq after years of displacement – and, hopefully, alleviate the intimidation of Shiite militias against the your community.
The historic meeting at the humble house of Al-Sistani was months in progress, with all the details meticulously discussed and negotiated between the ayatollah’s office and the Vatican.
When the time came, the convoy of the 84-year-old pontiff, led by a bulletproof vehicle, ran along the narrow, columned Nashafi Rasool Street, which culminates in the golden-domed shrine of Imam Ali. one of the most revered. places in the world for Shiites. He then walked the few meters to the modest house of Al-Sistani, which the clergyman has rented for decades.
A group of Iraqis in traditional clothing welcomed him outside. When a masked Francis entered the door, a few white doves were released as a sign of peace. It arose just under an hour later, still limping heavily from an apparent outbreak of sciatic nerve pain that makes walking difficult.
The “very positive” meeting lasted a total of 40 minutes, said a religious official in Najaf, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to report to the media.
The official said al-Sistani, who normally sits for visitors, began to greet Francis at the door of his room, a rare honor. Al-Sistani and Francis sat close to each other, without masks, with their hands around their backs. Among them was a small table with a box of handkerchiefs.
The official said there was some concern that the pope had met with so many people the day before. Francis has received the coronavirus vaccine, but al-Sistani has not.
The visit was broadcast live on Iraqi television and residents cheered for the meeting of two respected religious leaders.
“We welcome the pope’s visit to Iraq and especially the holy city of Najaf and his meeting with the great ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani,” said Haidar Al-Ilyawi, a resident of Najaf. “It is a historic visit and we hope it will be good for Iraq and the Iraqi people.”
Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday and met with senior government officials on the first papal visit to the country, with the aim of promoting his call for greater brotherhood among all peoples. It is also his first international trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and his meeting on Saturday was the first time a pope has met a great ayatollah.
According to the provincial governor, about 25,000 security forces were deployed in Najaf before the pope arrived. Rasool Street was emptied of the usual bustle to pave the way for the pope’s arrival. As soon as his caravan left a swarm of people, he rushed into the street, filling it again to see him outside.
On the few occasions he has voiced his opinion, the remarkably reclusive al-Sistani has changed the course of Iraq’s modern history.
In the years following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, he repeatedly preached calm and moderation, as the Shiite majority was attacked by al-Qaeda and other Sunni extremists. However, the country was mired in years of sectarian violence.
His 2014 fatwa, or religious edict, calling for men with the ability to join security forces in the fight against the Islamic State group increased the ranks of Shiite militias, many closely linked to Iran. In 2019, as anti-government demonstrations took over the country, his sermon led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.
Iraqis have welcomed the visit and international attention he has paid to the country as it struggles to recover from decades of war and unrest. Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State group in 2017, but there are still sporadic attacks.
He has also seen recent rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias against U.S. military and diplomatic installations, followed by U.S. airstrikes against militia targets in Iraq and neighboring Syria. The violence is linked to the confrontation between the United States and Iran following Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and its imposition of crippling sanctions on Iran.
Francis’ visit to nearby Najaf and Ur crosses provinces that have seen recent instability. In Nasiriyah, where the Ur plain is located, protest violence left at least five dead last month. Most died when Iraqi security forces used live ammunition to disperse crowds.
The violence of the protest was also seen in Najaf last year, but it diminished as the mass anti-government movement that engulfed Iraq gradually disappeared.
A strong security presence also awaited Francis in Ur, where the pope was to chair an interfaith meeting later Saturday. Ur, with its ancient ziggurat, is the traditional cradle of Abraham, a common prophet to Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
___
Winfield reported from Ur, Iraq. Associated Press writers Samya Kullab and Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed to Baghdad.