Sistani told the pope, “I have not received politicians for ten years because they have disappointed me,” according to Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans.
Sistani, 90, is the highest Shiite authority in Iraq. Known as the marja in Arabic, he avoids direct interference in political affairs, but wields moral authority and is widely revered in Iraq. His meeting on March 6 with Pope Francis was hailed as a historic moment and a symbol of peace.
No media was present in the meeting at Sistani’s Najaf home and just a few people were there, including Cardinal Sako who told Rudaw’s Bestoon Khalid on Friday that “the politicians do not do what the marja demands.”
One of the rare times Sistani commented on Iraqi affairs was during anti-government protests in late 2019. He spoke out against violence used by Iraqi security forces against protesters, saying the members of the security forces “must avoid using excessive force with peaceful protesters.” However, his call did not end the violence. At least 600 protesters and security force members have been killed since the protest movement emerged in October 2019 demanding improved basic services and an end to government corruption.
In 2018, Sistani asked for unity and speedy formation of a cabinet when Iraqi political parties failed to form a new government.
In his meeting with Pope Francis, the two discussed the global and regional struggles of “injustice, oppression, poverty, religious and ideological persecution, and suppression of basic freedoms and the absence of social justice,” according to a statement from his office.
Sistani "pointed out the role that the great religious and spiritual leaders should play in curbing these tragedies," added the statement.
Pope Francis described his meeting with Sistani as “unforgettable.”
