Pope Francis to Meet Sistani during Visit to Iraq

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Iraq next March and meet with the country’s top Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Catholic official said Thursday.

Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church, confirmed Francis’ visit during a virtual press conference hosted by the French bishops; however, the Vatican noted that it still could be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In spite of the deadly suicide bombing in Baghdad, Sako stressed that the incident did not affect the overall security situation in Iraq, asserting that “There is no risk for the pope.”

Nonetheless, the coronavirus pandemic could force the trip to be suspended at any minute.

Francis and the Vatican delegation are said to be vaccinated by the time of the trip.

Sako asserted that the visit between Francis and al-Sistani would be a “private visit without formalities.”

He also mentioned he hoped the two figures would sign the document on “human fraternity for world peace,” which is an inter-religious text condemning extremism.

In 2019, Francis signed the document with the leading Sunni cleric, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.

The Pope is scheduled to be in Iraq from March 5 to 8, with visits planned to the capital Baghdad, the northern city of Mosul, and Ur, where Abraham is said to have been born.

Iraq once counted more than 1.5 million Christians, but they were targeted relentlessly by ISIS in 2014, following the US-led invasion of 2003. Now, an estimated 400,000 Christians remain in Iraq.

Many have expressed hope that the Pope’s visit will highlight the challenges facing the community, including prolonged displacement and little representation in government.