BAGHDAD, 6 March 2021, (TON): Christian religious leader, Pope Francis visited Iraqi city of Najaf on Saturday and met today Iranian origin Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Pope Francis in white robe and Sistani in black robe will avail one to one meeting without advisers to conclude a religious-strategic treaty in the name of interfaith harmony.

Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday as his first visit to the country as part of four-day trip. A deal is expected to enforce religious diversity to give Christian access to certain heritage sites and building of new Churches and restoration of old disputed Mosques cum Churches. The visit is important for the Christians as they claim that Iraq is biblical land and they have plans to promote Christian-tourism. 

The visit in the indicator of Vatican strategic approach in pronouncing future Iraqi politics and Iran’s major rule in the future construction of the government. In a leaked consultations, the Western nations strategy against the orthodox Sunnis will be discussed by both the religious leaders which would allow Ayatollah Ali Sistani followers to consolidate their position with assurance of Shite- Christian and other minorities future government. If we recall in 2014, thousands of young volunteers from Iran. Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere fought battle against Muslims dubbed as Islamic State militants who had defeated Western occupation forces and were consolidating positions across Iraq. The western armed and funded battle allowed Iran-backed groups to consolidate their power and establish their influence.

In the meantime, across Iraq there are waves of anti-government protests, demanding a restoration of democratic political system free of the corruption and foreign influence.