Vatican:

Christians are crucial for the development, advancement, and prosperity of Iraq, said the Iraqi President on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Saturday. President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid emphasized that his government is keen on religious minorities including Christians to return to Iraq saying that his country is eager to advance pluralism, democracy, and respect for individual liberties. He said the government would give these groups the necessities for a respectable life, upholding the presence of Christians, and safeguarding diversity.

Over the past two decades, the Christian population of war-torn Iraq has declined from an estimated 2 million to an estimated 150,000 Christians today. The President also stressed the significance of coordinated efforts to develop the values of communication, collaboration, and cooperative action among people. Rashid also thanked the Pope for his visit to Iraq, which epitomized the peaceful coexistence and ties between different religions in the country.

According to a statement by the Holy See Press Office, bilateral relations between the Holy See and Iraq were discussed during the meeting. “In particular,” the statement added, “the need was reiterated for the Catholic Church in Iraq to be able to continue to carry out its valued mission and for all Iraqi Christians to be a vibrant and active part of society and the territory, particularly in the Nineveh Plain.”

The Head of the States also exchanged gifts as is customary. Pope Francis gifted the Iraqi President some bound papal documents, and a bronze sculpture of a flower bearing the words ‘Peace is a fragile flower,’ this year’s Message for the World Day of Peace. The pontiff received certain papal garments and a gold replica of the Ziggurat of Ur from the President.