After a fruitful visit of Pope Francis to Iraq two years ago and a meeting with the highly referred Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (May Allah prolong his authority), the Pope sent a letter to his Eminence and encouraged him to promote fraternity among believers.
In the letter, published on Tuesday March 14, 2023, by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope addressed the Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani as his “dear brother” and commended him for “his commitment to those who suffered persecution, preserving the sacredness of life and the importance of the unity of the Iraqi people.”
Pope Francis noted that it is incumbent on religious leaders of all faiths to encourage those with responsibilities in civil society to promote political actions that protect the fundamental rights of each person and promote fraternity and mutual acceptance, as a concrete response to today’s challenges.
