Pope Francis to meet Grand Ayatollah on his trip to Iraq
In this file photo taken on December 10, 2017, a fighter of the Hachd al-Chaabi, a Shiite coalition called Popular Mobilization, carries a portrait of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Basra.
AFP - HAIDAR MOHAMMED ALI
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
If it is not postponed due to deteriorating health and security conditions, it should be Pope Francis' first trip abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
And for this first trip in fifteen months, the sovereign pontiff has chosen Iraq.
He is expected there from March 5 to 8 to bring his support to a Christian minority suffering since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. But he must also advocate interfaith dialogue and in particular meet the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest Shiite authority of the country.
Publicity
Read more
As he [the pope] repeats over and over again, we are all sisters and brothers in the same family, so the other who is different, we must respect him in his condition, in his life, in his properties, etc.
Pope plans to meet with Grand Ayatollah
► To read also: Pope Francis will go to Iraq for a historical visit
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Iraq
Pope Francis
Vatican
On the same subject
Iraq / Vatican
Vatican calls out Muslim leaders on Iraq situation
Pope Francis to visit Iraq for historic visit