Pope Francis will have a historic meeting with the top Shiite Muslim Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Iraq on Saturday in the name of ‘coexistence’ dialogue between the two powerful religious leaders.
Al-Sistani is one of the most powerful religious figures in all of Shiite Islam as well as in Iraqi politics. And although he has sometimes been seen as a potential ally for the US has also frequently been at odds with the Administration of former US President Donald Trump, having previously denounced Trump’s plan to keep American troops in Iraq in order to counterbalance the influence of Iran and shares many of the same interests as his Iranian counterpart.
As the Denver post reports:
BAGHDAD — In Iraq’s holiest city, a pontiff will meet a revered ayatollah and make history with a message of coexistence in a place plagued by bitter divisions.
One is the chief pastor of the world-wide Catholic Church, the other a pre-eminent figure in Shiite Islam whose opinion holds powerful sway on the Iraqi street and beyond. Their encounter will resonate across Iraq, even crossing borders into neighboring, mainly Shiite Iran.
Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are to meet on Saturday for at most 40 minutes, part of the time alone except for interpreters, in the Shiite cleric’s modest home in the city of Najaf. Every detail was scrutinized ahead of time in painstaking, behind-the-scenes preparations that touched on everything from shoes to seating arrangements.
Pontiff meets Iraqi Ayatollah: In Iraq, all eyes will be on the historic meeting between Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Preparations have touched on everything from shoes to seating arrangements. https://t.co/I8mUXxMDjk
— AP Middle East (@APMiddleEast) March 3, 2021
The geopolitical undertones weigh heavy on the meeting, along with twin threats from a viral pandemic and ongoing tensions with rocket-firing Iranian-backed rogue groups.
According to the Catholic News Agency, Pope Francis’ visit is premised on the hope that Pope Francis will be able to “embrace all the Islamic world.”
Fake popes a dope
Why would any pope stupe to meet with Shiite Muslim Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani or any Muslim is beyond reason?
Possibly because it has something to do with the Arabic meaning of Inshallah! KUDOS to the Catholic Pope for a go at it and not putting his head where the sun doesn’t shine which seems to be the case with some do nothing naysayers expressing such negativity over such a bold and daring move !
Can’t trust Any high authority figure, especially a spiritual one in the Middle East, they’re anti-Christian and always will be! The Pope is becoming more and more secular himself in his Christianity so this doesn’t surprise me!
Francis is not putting his head where the sun don’t shine, he’s using his mouth round the front.
And what exactly will this “bold and daring move” accomplish?
These people are all power mad even if it means sharing that power with a whole different religion , someday the sheeple might wake up to what these religions are it’s money , money , money .
Actually its more of Control over the population and its activities that they want to control. An example would be a Strict Warden of a Maximum penitentiary.
and control, control, control.
because the ayatolla is closer to being a catholic then Biden is
wow is that true
because the so called CATHOLIC POPE IS NOT A REAL CHRISTAIN! HE IS A COMMUNIST!!!!!!!
I don’t know about communism, but if religious leaders desire to function at that level, they should stick with their bosses’ scripture, and cease condoning abortions, homosexuality, promiscuity and the molestation of children. I was shocked to hear from a coworker that the Catholic Church was a bastion of child molesters. Rather than raining the fires of Hell upon this man, I looked into the matter. He was RIGHT! Though the issue is exaggerated, and leaders of other religious sects engage in this behavior, I was still flabbergasted to learn about such activities.
I’m shocked that the 90 year old head of the Muslim faith is a Shia! I thought they were apostates! The Sunnias are the corrct branch to come from.
Caltholics on all countries are being played by Iran!
Wanna bet?
This pope is losing his congregation and trying to find another. Keep looking. You won’t find a following in socialists unless you are ready to give up all your money, jewels, precious metals, and most of all your freedom.
When the article said America’s greatest enemy, I thought they meant Biden….
He has to go. Little man is not legit.
There is a Heretic in the Vatican!
Just like illegal president biden that socialist pope is illegal and should go away.
So what? Bush, Clinton, Obama, Trump and Hillary each appeared at the Wailing Wall. How come the Pope is singled out for visiting foreign countries? Catholics have diocese worldwide, so the Pontiff should have some leeway with his travel plans.
He shouldn’t be meeting with these Muslims they want to destroy the Christen faith this pope isn’t leading the catholic faith in the ridge direction He should Resign he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Whatever the reason, the Pope has duties to conduct in each nation where his flock resides, or is being oppressed. Personally, being raised Catholic myself, I resent politicizing our faith with such activities.
Ten commandments mean anything to you? Especially the 6th they should do, & being raised a devout Catholic myself, I know God & all that is holy know we have heretics in the Catholic faith! Sodom’s coming & it can’t come quick enough for the satanic possessed ones in the Vatican!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Biden wants to destroy America !!!
This man does not act like a Pope.
Sadly THAT’S the truth!!!
“The Great Commission” that concludes the Gospel of St Matthew obliges the Pope to press Christianity forward — including into the Muslim world. It is highly unlikely that we will see that from this Pope, who has styled himself after the hippy St Francis of Assisi rather than after the mighty missionary St Francis Xavier.
These positions/pontifications have been ongoing puke since his installation. What’s new?
First, who cares. The pope is a sell out. BUT… I was raised Catholic but since a very tyoung age never followed those idiots. I am not religious, but typically, don’t care whhat you believe. Some of my best friends are devout “christians” and I am fine with that. Hell I don’t know anything maybe they are correct. Me I try to be nice to people, treat them “fair, as I know it”, and surely don’t put people down, typically, oh except for the peoplee, like this pope, that actually beliefs he is a savior. How funny, but then so doe soros think he is savior, how disgusting. If you put someone else down, if you try to run others lives then I am probably your enemy.
Satan has his beast of the land Jorge Mario Bergoglio gathering his armies!
The pope is pagan. The entire catholic thing is pagan. I apologize to the people that were raised in it and do not know any better. Our almighty one is Yahuwah, and His Son, our savior is Yahushua. Let me know if you find that being taught in any catholic church. The daughters of the catholic church, Baptist, Protestant, Pentecostal, and others will never teach the truth either. They are all counterfeits of the real thing brought to you by Shatawn. The whole world will be deceived, and so it has been. Cry out to Yahuwah to show you the truth through Yahushua. Peace
If I were Roman Catholic, I would be faced with a severe crisis of conscience now, indeed for the last three or so years. I know not whom this man serves, but I have doubts so bad, they give me a terminal headache.
To be honest, my “jury” is still out! I had serious reservations @ his signing documents before w/a leading Muslim leader. Islamic faith clearly considers anyone outside Islam as an infidel, so why would Pope Francis, regardless of his leadership role, be considered as otherwise? Hence an infidel too, just one in “high places”?
2 man made gods to go head on, if Only this could happen inside a UFC Cage. 😅😅
This lefty pope sure can’t make anything better in Iraq, but he could make things worse, I think this pope is a phony,radical that has strayed away from the catholic religion, most true catholics think this pope, has totally went bonkers, that’s my view also.
I don’t trust him, never did and most likely never will. And my family has been Catholic for over 1400yrs
Birds of a feather,….
Why is he giving legitimacy to the head of a false religion???
As a Christian I really don’t have a problem with this. No, I’m not saying Christians must succumb to Islam. I am saying different religions can get along with each other. I worked in the Middle East and found no animosity towards me and in fact a friend who is Muslim was happy that I worshiped God. I don’t fear Muslims because God is stronger than religion. But in this mortal world we live in I fear Democrats more than I fear Muslims.
He has had several meeting with the Sunni leaders. One was with an entire caravan of them. I think he has sold out the catholic church but they just do not know it yet but I never like him in he first place. So, it may be just me.
Maybe this Argentinian will convert!
Maybe this Argentinian will convert.