Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani discussed the challenge faced by humanity and called for peaceful coexistence, at the historic first meeting of the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a senior Shiite religious figure.
At the 45-minute meeting in the holy city of Najaf, in central Iraq, Mr Al Sistani said religious authorities have a role in protecting Iraq's Christians – that they should live in peace and enjoy the same rights as other Iraqis.
The Vatican said Pope Francis thanked Mr Al Sistani for having “raised his voice in defence of the weakest and most persecuted” during some of the most violent times in Iraq’s recent history.
The meeting came on the second day of Pope Francis's four-day trip to Iraq – the first by a pope. He aims to use the visit to raise peace and encouraging tolerance and coexistence.
The meeting was closed to the press, but the Vatican released a short statement and images of the sit-down between the 84-year-old pontiff and reclusive 90-year-old ayatollah.
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Pope Francis gestures as he boards a plane to depart for Rome, at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad. Reuters -
Cardinals and ranking Catholic clergymen board the Alitalia Airbus A330 aircraft as Pope Francis bids farewell to other bishops and Iraq's President Barham Saleh and his wife Sarbagh before departing from the Iraqi capital's Baghdad International. AFP -
Iraq's President Barham Saleh and his wife Sarbagh escort Pope Francis during the farewell ceremony for the pontiff at the Iraqi capital's Baghdad International Airport. AFP -
Pope Francis meets Abdullah Kurdi, father of little Alan, who was shipwrecked with his brother and mother on the Turkish coast in September 2015 while he was trying to reach Europe with his family, at the end of a Mass in the Erbil Stadium. EPA -
Nuns cheer and dance at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq. Getty Images -
A baby dressed in papal outfit during a mass with Pope Francis at the Erbil Stadium. EPA -
Nuns take a selfie after the completion of a mass conducted by Pope Francis. Getty Images -
People carry umbrellas as they celebrate after a mass led by Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq. Reuters -
Pope Francis conducts mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium. Getty Images -
Monks pray during a mass conducted by Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium. Getty Images -
Pope Francis blesses a statue of the Virgin Mary at a mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium. EPA -
Pope Francis walks with an incense censer as he leads mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium. AFP -
Pope Francis blesses people as he arrives in the popemobile vehicle at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AFP -
Pope Francis arrives on the popemobile to celebrate Mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AP Photo -
Nuns wave flags of Iraq, Kurdistan, and the Holy See as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AFP -
A faithful waits for Pope Francis to hold Mass at Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. Reuters -
Pope Francis blessing people as he arrives in the popemobile vehicle at the Franso Hariri Stadium. AFP -
Young women dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing wave flags of the Holy See as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. AFP -
Pope Francis arrives to hold a mass at the Grand Immaculate Church, in Qaraqosh. Reuters -
Pope Francis is greeted by people as he arrives at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (al-Tahira-l-Kubra), in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh. AFP -
Pope Francis arrives at a meeting with local residents at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh. AP Photo -
Pope Francis visits the town before holding a mass at the Grand Immaculate Church, in Qaraqosh. Reuters -
Pope Francis releases a white dove during a prayer for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City. Reuters -
Pope Francis rides in a golf cart at the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP -
A nun kisses the hand of Pope Francis during a prayer for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City. Reuters -
Pope Francis arrives to pray for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's old city. Reuters -
Pope Francis attends a prayer for the victims of the war at Church Square, Mosul. EPA -
Pope Francis and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masud Barzani viewing a gift sculpture of a Chaldean cross during their meeting in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region. AFP -
Pope Francis meeting with the President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the 9th cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government Mansour Barzani, and the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masud Barzani in Arbil. AFP -
Pope Francis greets Iraqis dressed in traditional outfits upon his arrival at Erbil airport, in the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. AFP -
Pope Francis walks with Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan region, and President of the Kurdistan region in Iraq Nechirvan Barzani, upon his arrival at Erbil International Airport. Reuters -
Iraqi women dressed in traditional outfits hold palm leafs as they welcome Pope Francis upon his arrival at Erbil airport. AFP -
Mansour Barzani, Prime Minister of the 9th cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government looks on , as Pope Francis greets religious dignitaries at the Erbil airport. AFP -
Pope Francis arrives at Erbil International Airport in Iraq. Reuters -
Pope Francis is welcomed at Erbil International Airport in Erbil. Reuters -
Pope Francis greets people as he leave the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph. Getty Images -
Pope Francis leads mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP -
Iraqi Christian worshippers attend the mass led by the Pope at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP -
Pope Francis greeted by children upon his arrival for a mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP -
Pope Francis blesses the congregation as he leads mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP -
Pope Francis arrives to lead mass at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP -
Pope Francis is greeted by children upon his arrival at Baghdad's Saint Joseph Cathedral. AFP -
People take pictures with their mobiles upon the arrival of Pope Francis. Reuters -
Pope Francis speaks to Iraqi religious figures during an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province. EPA -
Pope Francis speaks to Iraqi religious figures during an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur. EPA -
Pope Francis speaks to Iraqi religious figures during an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur. EPA -
Pope Francis is seen behind flowers at an interfaith service at the House of Abraham in the ancient city of Ur. EPA -
Pope Francis smiles and waves at a women that threw a kiss to him. Haider Husseini/ The National -
People attend an inter-religious ceremony in Ur near Nassiriya. Reuters -
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani meeting with Pope Francis and his delegation, at his home in the holy city of Najaf. AFP -
Pope Francis, accompanied by clerics, and Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, meet in Najaf. Courtesy of the Vatican -
Pope Francis's meeting with Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, in Najaf, followed months of negotiations between Najaf and the Vatican. Reuters -
Pope Francis smiles with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq -
The Pope visits Our Lady of Salvation Church. Courtesy of the Prime Minister office -
Pope Francis is welcomed upon his arrival at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AP Photo -
Pope Francis speaks in the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP -
Pope Francis greets people in front of the the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP -
Nuns welcome Pope Francis at the Our Lady of Salvation Church. AFP -
Iraq's President Barham Salih speaks with Pope Francis during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidental Palace in Baghdad. Reuters -
Iraqi President Barham Salih welcomes Pope Francis at the Presidential Palace. AFP -
Pope Francis walk with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq -
Pope Francis talks with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival in Baghdad. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq -
Pope Francis walks with Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on arrival at Baghdad airport. Handout from the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq -
Pope Francis walks alongside Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi upon his arrival in Baghdad. AFP -
Pope Francis waves to the crowd upon his arrival in Baghdad. Reuters -
Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the plane heading to Iraq. AP Photo -
Pope Francis waves as he boards the plane for his visit to Iraq, at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Reuters -
People holding Iraqi and Vatican flags as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis, at Baghdad Airport Road, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters -
A Christian woman holds the Vatican flag as she heads to the airport to wait for the arrival of Pope Francis, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
Handout pictures showed the two men sitting on two blue sofas in an L shape with their hands placed on their laps inside Al Sistani’s modest rented home in a narrow alley in Najaf’s Old City.
They discussed "the great challenges that humanity faces in this era and the role of faith in God all mighty and his messages and commitment to high moral values in overcoming them", according to a statement issued by Mr Al Sistani's office.
The statement added that Al Sistani spoke about the injustice, oppression, poverty, religious and intellectual persecution, suppression of basic freedoms and the absence of social justice – especially the wars, acts of violence, economic blockade, displacement of many people in the region.
He made a clear mention the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Mr Al Sistani stressed the “role that the great religious and spiritual leaders should play in curbing these tragedies”, and called for giving “priority to reason and wisdom and to reject the language of war”.
He stressed the “importance of concerted efforts to consolidate the values of harmony, peaceful coexistence and human solidarity in all societies, based on fostering rights and mutual respect among followers of different religions and intellectual trends”.
The pontiff thanked Mr Al Sistani for “speaking up – together with the Shiite community – in defence of those most vulnerable and persecuted amid the violence and great hardships of recent years, and for affirming the sacredness of human life and the importance of the unity of the Iraqi people”, according to Vatican statement.
Pope Francis underlined the "importance of co-operation and friendship between religious communities for contributing – through the cultivation of mutual respect and dialogue – to the good of Iraq, the region and the entire human family".
The House of Abraham in Ur
After the meeting, the pontiff flew to the southern city of Nasiriyah from where he travelled to attend an interreligious meeting at the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur, the birthplace of Abraham – the patriarch of the three great monotheistic religions.
On Sunday, he will travel to the northern cities of Erbil, Mosul and Qaraqosh to meet local officials, the Christian community and to hold a mass.
