Pope’s meeting with Shia cleric in Iraq a new phase of interfaith dialogue cruxnow.com

Pope Francis’s March 5-8 visit to Iraq is historic for many reasons, not least of which is Saturday’s meeting with the chief figure in Shia Islam, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

It was the least-scripted encounter and took place behind closed doors in Najaf, the third holiest city in Shia Islam after Mecca and Medina.

According to the Vatican, during the 45-minute long meeting Francis emphasized the importance of collaboration and friendship between religious communities because “by cultivating mutual respect and dialogue, we can contribute to the good of Iraq, the region and of all humanity.”…

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