Pope Francis pays a visit to Iraq’s most popular Shiite cleric al-Sistani

After walking through a narrow alley in Najaf, the holy city of Iraq, Pope Francis paid a historic meeting with the country’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Through this meeting, the two religious figures delivered the message of peaceful coexistence in a country still reeling from numerous national conflicts that have taken place over the past decade.

In a simple, yet profound gesture, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani welcomed Pope Francis into his home. He urged for the protection of Christians in Iraq, claiming that they should live in peace in Iraq and receive the same constitutional rights as other Iraqis.

He also said that religious figures must play a role in protecting the group, as well as “others who have also suffered injustice and harm.” According to a statement from the Vatican, Pope Francis later thanked the cleric for raising his voice to defend the weakest and the most persecuted.

The day’s events seemed to have followed Pope Francis’ agenda of bringing a message of peaceful coexistence and diversity. He also urged Iraqi Muslims to accept and embrace the Christian minority in Iraq.

“From this place, where faith was born, from the land of our father Abraham, let us affirm that God is merciful and that the greatest blasphemy is to profane his name by hating our brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis said.

However, his message is still a tough sell in Iraq, a country where communities are still dealing with the trauma caused by sectarian bloodshed and discrimination, and politicians who have tied their power to sectarian interests.