Condemnation of "terrorism that offends religion"

Pope and Sistani direct from Najaf an appeal for peace

Pope Francis called on Ur to respect freedom of conscience and religious freedom.

Reuters

Pope Francis held a historic meeting with the supreme religious authority of the Shiites in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani, yesterday, in a strong gesture calling for peaceful coexistence in a land plagued by sectarianism and violence.

The Pope from Ur also condemned "terrorism that offends religion."

The meeting between the Pope and Sistani in the city of Najaf in southern Iraq, as part of a rapid and risky papal tour in Iraq, is the first time that a pope of the Vatican has met with a supreme Shiite reference.

After the meeting, Sistani called on religious leaders to hold the great powers accountable, and to give reason, wisdom and peace over the language of war.

The Pope also called on religious communities to work together.

The Vatican said, in a statement after the meeting, which lasted about 45 minutes: "(The Pope) emphasized the importance of cooperation and friendship between religious sects so that we can contribute to the benefit of Iraq and the region by encouraging mutual respect and dialogue."

In a statement, Sistani said that he referred to “the role that the great religious and spiritual leaders should play in curbing these tragedies, and what is hoped for in urging the concerned parties, especially in the great powers, to give priority to reason and wisdom and to reject the language of war and non-expansion. In taking care of their self-interests at the expense of peoples' rights to live in freedom and dignity », affirming his concern for Christians to live like all Iraqis in security and peace.

The meeting took place at the home of Sistani, who has been renting it for decades, which is located in a narrow alley of the city of Najaf near the golden-domed shrine of Imam Ali.

After Najaf and the meeting with Sistani, Pope Francis landed in Ur, where he condemned in a speech "terrorism that offends religion."

In his address to Muslim, Yazidi and Sabian religious officials, the Pope said: “Hostility, extremism and violence do not come from a religious soul ... Rather, these are all betrayals of religion.” Understanding ».

And the Pope added, "Peace does not have winners and losers, but rather brothers and sisters, who walk from conflict to unity." He added, "Let us pray and ask for this peace for the whole of the Middle East, and I think in particular of the tormented neighboring Syria."

He also called, also from Ur, to "respect freedom of conscience and religious freedom and recognize it everywhere," adding: "They are basic rights, because they make a person free to contemplate."

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