"There are some critics who say the pope is not brave but 'reckless', that he's taking steps against Catholic doctrine. That he's one step from heresy," the pope told journalists, March 8, on the plane from Iraq back to Rome.

Francis said his efforts to mend Christian-Muslim relations are far from being "capricious," and are in keeping with the doctrine laid out by the Second Vatican Council.

He said his decision to speak with Muslim religious leaders and promote interreligious dialogue is 'always made in prayer, in dialogue, asking for advice.'

Pope Francis became the first Roman pontiff to visit Iraq on his March 5-8 apostolic visit.

On March 6, the pope met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most prominent Shiite leader. The historic 45 minute meeting was the first official meeting between a pope and a prominent Shiite representative.

The pope described al-Sistani as "a humble man" who has "wisdom and prudence". He added that "it was good for my soul to encounter him".

Francis said the meeting was "a duty in his pilgrimage of faith" to promote human fraternity among religions.

It was Francis' second major outreach to Muslims. In 2019, Francis cosigned a declaration of human fraternity in Cairo, Egypt, with the Muslim Sunni leader Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar.

The pope and al-Sistani didn't sign a document.

Still, Francis described the interreligious dialogue as "a second step" in realizing the vision enshrined in his 2020 encyclical "Brothers All."

"This (trip) for me is like coming back to life. Because it means to touch the church, to touch the holy people of God, all the peoples," he said.

He defended his decision to travel to Iraq as coming "from inside" and "knowing the risks."

Sources

• Religion News
• CathNews

The first Catholic pope to visit Iraq, Francis's history-making four-day trip began in Baghdad last Friday.

His key message stressed peace in Iraq where wars, terrorism and sectarian conflicts have plagued it over several decades.

"May there be an end to acts of violence and extremism, factions and intolerance!" Francis said in his first official speech.

Addressing Iraqi President Barham Salih, government leaders and diplomats at the Presidential Palace, he called for room to be made for all citizens wanting to help build up Iraq.

This could happen "through dialogue and through frank, sincere and constructive discussion," he said.

"I come as a penitent, asking forgiveness of heaven and my brothers and sisters for so much destruction and cruelty.

"I come as a pilgrim of peace in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace. How much we have prayed in these years for peace in Iraq."

Francis also visited one of Shia Islam's most respected religious figures.

Receiving the pope at his home in the holy city of Najaf, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (pictured) said Christians should be able to live in peace and security like all other Iraqis.

The meeting was seen as a highly symbolic moment in the Pope's visit, which is his first international trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic more than a year ago.

During another scheduled visit - this time speaking at an inter-faith prayer service, Francis told those present: Hostility, extremism and violence are "betrayals of religion."

Religion "must be at the service of peace and fraternity," he said on another occasion.

"Religion, by its very nature, must be at the service of peace and fraternity."

Hence, the name of God cannot be used "to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression," he explained.

Society needs to be based on fraternal union, solidarity and concrete acts of care and service to the vulnerable and those most in need.

"Fraternal coexistence calls for patient and honest dialogue, protected by justice and by respect for law," he said.

"Only if we learn to look beyond our differences and see each other as members of the same human family will we be able to begin an effective process of rebuilding and leave to future generations a better, more just and more humane world," he said.

Francis had a special message about Iraq's large youth population during his "pilgrimage of peace".

They are an "inestimable treasure for the future.

"Young people are your treasure," he told Christian spiritual leaders.

"They need you to care for them, to nurture their dreams, to accompany their growth and to foster their hope." Noting that their patience has already been sorely tried by the conflicts of recent years.

"It is up to us to cultivate their growth in goodness and to nurture them with hope."

Source

• Catholic Herald
• La Croix
• BBC
• Image: CNN