NAJAF, KOMPAS.TV – Pope Francis today met Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, Iraq. Ali al-Sistani is one of the most senior Shia clerics in the world.
The Associated Press on Saturday (06/03/2021) reported that Pope Francis’ visit to Najaf was to send a message for peaceful coexistence and to urge Muslims (Shia) in Iraq to embrace minority Christians there.
The historic meeting at Ali al-Sistani’s humble residence has been planned for months, with all the details discussed and carefully negotiated between Ali al-Sistani’s office and the Vatican.
Pope Francis’ motorcade of armored cars immune to bullets and explosions entered the small streets of the city of Najaf and culminated in the tomb of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib which has a golden dome.
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Pope Francis then walked a few meters to the modest residence of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani which he had rented for decades.
A group of Iraqis wearing traditional clothes greet Pope Francis in front of Ali al-Sistani’s residence. When Pope Francis, wearing the mask, entered Ali al-Sistani’s house, five white doves were released and then flew into the sky.
The closed meeting was held at the residence of Ali al-Sistani, discussing various issues experienced by minority Christians in Iraq.
Al-Sistani is a highly respected figure of the Iraqi Shiites whose religious opinions and opinions in general are highly listened to by the entire Shiites of the world.
For Iraq’s dwindling Christian minority, demonstrations of solidarity from al-Sistani could help secure their place in Iraq after years of displacement – and, they hope, ease intimidation from Shia militias against their community.
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The visit was broadcast live on Iraqi television, and residents welcomed a meeting of two respected religious leaders.
“We welcome the pope’s visit to Iraq and in particular to the holy city of Najaf and his meeting with Ayatollah Agung Ali Al-Sistani,” said Najaf resident Haidar Al-Ilyawi. “This is a historic visit and hope it will be good for Iraq and the Iraqi people.”
Pope Francis arrived in Iraq Friday (06/03/2021) and met the ranks of senior Iraqi government officials on the first papal visit to the country, campaigning for a call for close brotherhood between humanity.
The visit to Iraq is also Pope Francis’ first visit abroad since the Covid-19 pandemic, and this Saturday meeting is the first between a Pope who is a leader of Catholics and a Shiite leader Ayatollah Akbar.
In the few moments that al-Sistani made his comments, the notoriously reclusive Shia cleric altered Iraq’s modern history.
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In the years following the 2003 US invasion and occupation of Iraq, al-Sistani has repeatedly called on Shiites to calm down and refrain from attacks by Al-Qaida and other extremist Sunni groups.
Even so, Iraq still plunged into the abyss of sectarian violence.
In 2014 al-Sistani issued a fatwa ordering all capable and healthy men to join the security forces in fighting the Islamic State group.
As a result, the number of Shia militias immediately swelled, many of which had close ties to Iran.
In 2019 when anti-government protests were widespread in Iraq, his sermon prompted the then prime minister of Iraq, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, to resign.
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Iraqis have welcomed the visit, including the international attention that accompanies it, as the country struggles to recover from decades of war and unrest.
Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State group in 2017 but is still experiencing sporadic attacks.
Iraq has also experienced recent rocket attacks by Iranian-backed militias on US military and diplomatic facilities, followed by US air strikes against militia targets in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
The violence is linked to a standoff between the US and Iran following Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the imposition of crippling sanctions against Iran.
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