ROME (CNS) In a private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, Iraq’s President urged the Pope to help support the country’s minority Christian population.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told reporters on November 10 that during his 20-minute meeting with the Pope at the Vatican he asked the pontiff “to support or at least to show more support for our Christian brothers and sisters”.
Iraqi Christians make up just 3 per cent of the population in a country that is mostly Shiite and Sunni Muslim.
Many Christian leaders have said large numbers of Christians have been leaving the country because of continued insecurity, poor economic prospects and discrimination.
The November 10 meeting with the Pope was the first time the Iraqi President came to Italy and the Vatican. It was part of a weeklong visit that included talks with Italy’s Prime Minister and other officials.
Mr Talabani said the Pope told him that he was “praying for peace and stability in Iraq”.
At the end of the press conference after the President left, Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk told reporters the Islamic aspect of the present Iraqi Constitution is “very grave” and “very dangerous”.
