Grand Ayatollah Sayed Al-Sistani meets with Pope Francis in the Holy city of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf
Photo by Sayed Sistani’s office/ Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf City
By The-14
The translation of the Sayed Sistani’s office original statement by Mohammed Husain J
March 6, 2021
This morning March 6, 2021. His Eminence, the Supreme Religious Authority, Grand Ayatollah Sayed Ali Al-Sistani met with the Supreme Pontiff (Pope Francis), the Pope of the Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican. The meeting took place in the Holy city of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf, Iraq.
This is the first visit of the Pontiff, Pope Francis, to Iraq, and this is also the first papal visit to Iraq. This is the 33rd trip for the Pope outside Italy. The visit to Iraq is the first for Pope Francis outside Italy since November 2019.
During the meeting, which lasted approximately 45 minutes. The conversation revolved around the great challenges that humanity faces in this era, the role of faith in God Almighty and His messages, and the commitment to high moral values that one has to make to overcome these challenges.
The office of His Eminence, the Supreme Religious Authority Grand Ayatollah Sayed Ali Al-Sistani has issued a statement about this meeting.
Below is the translation of the original statement by Mohammed Husain J:
In the name of God the Most Merciful and Most Beneficent
This morning [6th March, 2021], His Eminence Ayatollah Sistani met with the Supreme Pontiff (Pope Francis), the Pope of the Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican.
During the meeting, the discussion revolved around the great challenges that humanity faces in this era, the role of faith in God and His messages, and the commitment to high moral values [that one has to make] to overcome them.
His Eminence talked about the injustice, oppression, poverty, religious and intellectual persecution, suppression of basic freedoms and the absence of social justice, especially wars, acts of violence, economic blockades, displacement etc, especially the ones faced by the Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
The Ayatollah pointed out to the role that the religious and spiritual leaders should play in curbing these tragedies, and what is expected [from them], in urging the concerned [& responsible] parties – especially the great powers – to empower the voice of reason and wisdom and to reject the language of war, and not to expand their self-interest over the rights of peoples to live in freedom and dignity. The Ayatollah also stressed the importance of concerted efforts in consolidating the values of harmony, peaceful coexistence and human solidarity in all societies, based on fostering rights & mutual respect amongst the followers of different religions and intellectual trends.
His Eminence praised the status and glorious history and people [of all affiliations] of Iraq, and expressed his hopes that Iraq would surpass its current situation soon. The Ayatollah affirmed his interest in seeing [Iraq’s] Christian citizens living like the rest of the population in security and peace and with [guaranteed and] full constitutional rights. His Eminence also pointed out the role that the religious authority [the Marja’iyah] played in protecting [the Christian population] and the rest of those who had suffered injustice and harm in the incidents of past years especially during the period in which terrorists seized vast areas in several Iraqi provinces, and practiced criminal acts there.
His Eminence wished the Pontiff, the followers of the Catholic Church, and humanity with goodness and happiness, and thanked him for making the effort to travel to Najaf to make this visit.
Rajab 21, 1442 AH. Sayed Sistani’s office/ Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf
The original Statement in Arabic
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