Holy See Press Office publishes Pope Francis’s letter to Ayatollah Sistani

In a letter sent to Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Husseinial-Sistani, Pope Francis recalled their meeting two years ago in Najaf, describing it as “a milestone on the path of interreligious dialogue and understanding between peoples.”

In the letter, published on Tuesday by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope commended the Grand Ayatollah for “his commitment to those who suffered persecution, preserving the sacredness of life and the importance of the unity of the Iraqi people.”

The letter continued, “We are both convinced – Pope Francis wrote to Ayatollah al-Sistani – that “respect for the dignity and rights of every person and every community, especially freedom of religion, thought and expression, is a source of personal and social serenity and harmony between peoples.”