Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr welcomed the anticipated visit of Pope Francis to his country. He commented on some objections to the Pope's visit, emphasizing that openness to religions is commendable, adding that "hearts before doors are open" to him.
In a tweet, al-Sadr stated, "I received that there are some opponents to the Pope's visit to our beloved Iraq." He continued: "I say that openness to religions is commendable, and his (the Pope's) visit to Iraq is welcome; our hearts before our doors are open to him."
Earlier on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, revealed significant security measures to secure the Pope's visit next month. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Iraq from March 5 to 8, marking the first visit by a Pontiff to the country.
The Vatican announced on February 8 that Pope Francis will hold a meeting with Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani during his upcoming visit. The official program of the visit published by the Vatican starts from the capital Baghdad, where the Pope is set to visit the Church of Our Lady of Salvation. It was here that a horrific crime occurred on October 31, 2010, when gunmen stormed the church during a Mass, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
After visiting the Church of Our Lady of Salvation, the Pope will move to Nasiriyah in the historical Dhi Qar Governorate, where he will visit the archaeological site of Ur and deliver a speech on peace and fraternity among all religions. He will also visit the house of Prophet Abraham, his birthplace, and the cradle of his message in the city of Ur.
Ur is considered the blessed birthplace of Abraham, a figure shared by the major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This is referred to as the Great Pilgrimage, which starts from Ur to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine.
The Pope will then travel to the city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, on the morning of Saturday, March 6, to visit al-Sistani and will subsequently move to Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh Plain, including a visit to Erbil.