Shia Islam

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Pope Francis meets Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, Iraq, March 6, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis makes landmark visit to Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

Mar 6, 2021

Pope Francis on Saturday made a landmark visit to the home of Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.  Read more

Ali al-Sistani, the leader of Shia Muslims in Iraq. Credit: IsaKazimi (public domain).

Who is Ali al-Sistani, the Muslim leader whom the Pope will meet in Iraq?

Feb 2, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

During his upcoming trip to Iraq, Pope Francis will meet with the Shia Muslim leader Ali al-Sistani, a man in... Read more