INA – Baghdad
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – MOFA announced that Pope Francis will visit Iraq by Iraqi plane and guard, while noting that the Pope’s meeting with the supreme religious authority, Ali al-Sistani, will not include any signatures or agreements.
"The Pope's visit will be historic and will have a great impact on Iraq as well as the support for Christians in the country," said the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry Nizar Al-Khair Allah, during a discussion table attended by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
“The Vatican would like the Pope to come via an Iraqi plane with the provision of Iraqi protection. The Pope's visit to Najaf will be historic and have not been witnessed in the history of the hawza,” added Al-Khair Allah.
He affirmed that the visit has a valuable religious aspect and that “there is contact with Najaf, Dhi Qar, Nineveh and KRG regarding the Pope's visit,"
Al-Khair Allah stressed "the necessity of media focus on the importance of the visit and its success to Iraq," pointing out that "we will give certain priorities to journalists."