Pope Francis meets an influential priest in Iraq.

Pope Francis held a symbolic meeting with one of the most powerful people in Shia Islam on the second day of his visit to Iraq.The Pope's confrontation with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of millions of Shia Muslims, is taking place in the holy city of Najaf.It was the pope's first overseas trip since the outbreak and the pope's first visit to Iraq.Covid-19 and fears for safety have made this expedition the Patriarch's riskiest journey.Earlier, the 84-year-old Catholic church leader told reporters he felt The "duty of communion" on the iconic "journey" will see him visiting places for four days in Iraq.

On Saturday, แจ็คพอตแตกง่าย Pope Francis will join a 90-year-old priest for talks that tend to focus on issues between faiths, such as the Iraqi Christian minority, which has been The effects of violence since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq The Patriarch will then travel to the ancient city of Ur, believed to be the Prophet Abraham, the center of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.About 10,000 Iraqi security forces have been deployed to protect the Pope during his visit, while a constant curfew is set to limit the spread of the coronavirus.Some Shiite militants were reportedly opposed to the visit, saying the number of tours interfered with Western affairs.


What did the Pope say so far?

Shortly after he was greeted at Baghdad airport by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Khadimi on Friday, the Patriarch called for "End acts of violence and group extremism and intolerance"Iraq has been hit by war, terrorist outbreaks and sectarian conflicts," he said in a speech.The presence of Christians in this land and their contribution to the life of the nation is a precious legacy that they desire to continue serving everyone," said the Pope. supplement He said the country's dwindling Christian community should play a more prominent role as citizens with full rights, freedoms and accountability.

One of the world's oldest Christian communities has declined over the past two decades from 1.4 million to 250,000, less than 1% of the population.Many have fled abroad to escape the violence that has threatened the country since the 2003 US-led invasion that drove Saddam Hussein.Tens of thousands of people were also displaced when Islamic State (IS) militants took over northern Iraq in 2014, destroying old churches, seizing their property and giving them the option to pay replacement taxes. Religion travels or faces death.


Who are Iraqi Christians?

The people of Iraq now accepted Christianity in the 1st century.According to the U.S. State Department, Christian leaders estimate that there are fewer than 250,000 Christians left in Iraq, with the largest population of at least 200,000 living in the Nineveh and Kurdistan plains in the north of the country.About 67% of these are Chaldean Catholics, whose Eastern ritual church maintains its own liturgy and traditions. But it acknowledged the authority of the Pope in Rome. The other 20% were members of the Assyrian Church of the East, believed to be the oldest in Iraq.
The rest are Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, as well as Anglican, Evangelical, and other Protestants.


What is the Pope's schedule?

Due to the rapidly growing concern for safety and COVID-19 infection, the Pope will make limited public exposure.He has had 2 BioNTech / Pfizer vaccinations and will be vaccinated for his environment. But there is a fear that the trip will become an event super-spreader As the large crowd expected When he arrived on Friday, the pope was seen to have a noticeable limp, suggesting that his sciatica was still bothering him.On Sunday, the bishop will visit Mosul, where he will offer prayers in Church Square for the victims of the war against IS, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians.Later, he is scheduled to lead Mass at a football stadium in the northern city of Irbil, where up to 10,000 people are expected to attend.In addition, the Pope will visit nearby Qaraqosh, where Christians have returned since IS's defeat in 2017.

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