Ali al-Sistani
Pope Francis speaks to journalists, Monday, March 8, 2021, while flying back to The Vatican at the end of his four-day trip to Iraq where he met with different Christian communities and Shiite revered cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. At right pope's spokesperson Matteo Bruni. (AP Photo/Yara Nardi, pool)
Pope weighed Iraq virus risk but believes God will protect

By Nicole Winfield And Samya Kullab Mar. 08, 2021 01:55 AM EST

Pope Francis arrives on the popemobile to celebrate mass at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Irbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Sunday, March 7, 2021. The Vatican and the pope have frequently insisted on the need to preserve Iraq's ancient Christian communities and create the security, economic and social conditions for those who have left to return.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Where IS ruled, pope calls on Christians to forgive, rebuild

By Nicole Winfield And Samya Kullab Mar. 07, 2021 01:05 AM EST

Pope Francis, center arrives to concelebrate a mass in the Chaldean Cathedral of Saint Joseph, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, March 6, 2021. Earlier today Francis met privately with the country's revered Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Latest: Pope attends Mass at crowded Baghdad church

Mar. 06, 2021 10:23 AM EST

Pope Francis, center, leads a mass at Mar Youssef Church in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, March 6, 2021. Pope Francis and Iraq's top Shiite cleric delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence Saturday, urging Muslims in the war-weary Arab nation to embrace Iraq's long-beleaguered Christian minority during an historic meeting in the holy city of Najaf. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric deliver message of coexistence

By Nicole Winfield And Qassim Abdul-Zahra Mar. 06, 2021 02:21 AM EST

Pope Francis is welcomed upon his arrival at the Sayidat al-Nejat (Our Lady of Salvation) Cathedral, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, March 5, 2021. Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq to urge the country's dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope urges Iraq to embrace its Christians on historic visit

By Nicole Winfield And Samya Kullab Mar. 05, 2021 06:31 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 7 2010, followers attend a mass at Our Lady of Salvation church in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi Christians have gathered for mass in the same church that just a week before was the scene of a horrific bloodbath that left scores dead and wounded. Pope Francis is pushing ahead with the first papal trip to Iraq despite rising coronavirus infections, hoping to encourage the country’s dwindling number of Christians who were violently persecuted during the Islamic State insurgency while seeking to boost ties with the Shiite Muslim world. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
EXPLAINER: Pope's risky Iraq trip aims to boost Christians

By Nicole Winfield Mar. 03, 2021 05:27 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2004 file photo, Iraqis protest in the streets of the southern city of Basra carrying posters of Shiite leaders including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, right, the top cleric of Iraq's Shiite majority. On Saturday, March 6, 2021, Pope Francis will visit the 90-year-old Grand Ayatollah who is revered by many Shiites worldwide and whose words hold powerful influence in Iraq and beyond. The pontiff and ayatollah will meet in al-Sistani’s modest home in the Iraqi city of Najaf. (AP Photo/Nabeel al-Jurani, File)
Intense preparations before pontiff meets Iraqi ayatollah

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra And Samya Kullab Mar. 03, 2021 01:20 AM EST

Iraq Christians prepare posters welcoming Pope Francis to St. Joseph's Chaldean Church ahead of the Pope's visit, in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (AP/Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Vatican defends pope's Iraq trip amid virus as 'act of love'

By Nicole Winfield Mar. 02, 2021 09:37 AM EST

Pope Francis celebrates a Mass with members of religious institutions on the occasion of the celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, pool)
Pope moves ahead with plans to meet Shiite leader in Iraq

By Nicole Winfield And Samya Kullab Feb. 08, 2021 07:19 AM EST

FILE - in this Sunday, April 14, 2019 file photo, Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako addresses the faithful during the Palm Sunday service at Mar Youssif Church in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq’s top Catholic official said Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 that a deadly suicide bombing in Baghdad hasn’t thwarted Pope Francis’ plans to visit, and he confirmed the pontiff would meet with the country’s top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, in a significant highlight of the first-ever papal trip to Iraq. The Chaldean patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, provided the first details of Francis’ March 5-8 itinerary during a virtual press conference hosted by the French bishops' conference. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
Pope on Iraq trip: Worthwhile even if most watch him on TV

By Nicole Winfield Feb. 01, 2021 02:05 PM EST

FILE - in this Sunday, April 14, 2019 file photo, Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako addresses the faithful during the Palm Sunday service at Mar Youssif Church in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq’s top Catholic official said Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 that a deadly suicide bombing in Baghdad hasn’t thwarted Pope Francis’ plans to visit, and he confirmed the pontiff would meet with the country’s top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, in a significant highlight of the first-ever papal trip to Iraq. The Chaldean patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, provided the first details of Francis’ March 5-8 itinerary during a virtual press conference hosted by the French bishops' conference. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
Patriarch: Pope to meet Iraqi Shiite leader Sistani in Iraq

By Nicole Winfield And Samya Kullab Jan. 28, 2021 06:41 AM EST

Supporters of the Popular Mobilization Forces hold a poster of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces and General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's Quds force during a rally to commemorate the anniversary of the killing of Soleimanil and al-Muhandis in a U.S. drone strike in Basra, Iraq, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
US sanctions prominent Iraqi politician over rights abuses

Jan. 08, 2021 02:29 PM EST

This handout photo from the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani shows Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, center, meeting with U.N. envoy to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, right, in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. In a statement released by his office after meeting the U.N. envoy Al-Sistani threw his support behind the prime minister’s announcement to hold parliamentary elections ahead of schedule next year, a key demand of protesters. (Office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, via AP)
Iraq's top Shiite cleric backs early parliamentary elections

Sep. 13, 2020 08:28 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2019, file photo, Lebanese Shiite supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group raise their fists and chant slogans during Ashoura, the Shiite Muslim commemoration marking the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in present-day Iraq in the seventh century, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, in Beirut, Lebanon. Shiites mark Ashoura, the 10th day of the month of Muharram, to commemorate the Battle of Karbala when Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was killed. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)
Shiite Muslims mark holy day of mourning in virus' shadow

By Mariam Fam And Bassem Mroue Aug. 29, 2020 02:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 file photo, Iraqi militiamen march and chant anti U.S. slogans while carrying a picture of Soleimani, left and al-Muhandis, with Arabic that reads "our martyr leaders," during the funeral of Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi militia leaders were expecting the usual bags of cash when the new head of Iran's expeditionary Quds Force , a successor Soleimani, paid his first visit. Instead, Esmail Ghani brought them silver rings, as tokens of gratitude. The episode, relayed by several officials, illustrates Iran's struggle to maintain influence abroad as it grapples with the economic fallout from crushing U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)
Troubled Iran struggles to maintain sway over Iraq militias

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra And Samya Kullab Jun. 11, 2020 02:17 AM EDT