Pope Francis and Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani held a historic meeting in the holy city of Najaf, talking about points surrounding Iraq’s Christian minority.

Following the meeting, al Sistani stated that spiritual authorities have a job in defending Christians in Iraq, and that they need to be capable to get pleasure from the identical freedoms as Muslims.

He also called on world religious leaders to hold great powers to account and for wisdom and sense to prevail over war.

“Religious and spiritual leadership must play a big role to put a stop to tragedy and urge sides, especially great powers, to make wisdom and sense prevail and erase the language of war,” al Sistani said.

Pope Francis thanked al Sistani for having raised his voice in defense of the weakest, a Vatican statement said.

Pope Francis is expected to go to the historic metropolis of Ur later this morning to attend an inter-religious assembly.