Vatican News: Pope Francis in Iraq | New Outlook

AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) -- Pope Francis' historic visit to the Middle East's most conflict-riven nation gives hope and comfort to Iraqis of all faiths, and some would even say to Arabs beyond Iraq's borders. "The pope's visit has been very well received by Muslims in the region. Did you see anyone on the news protesting against his visit? I myself am a Muslim, and we are very excited," said Dania Koleilat Khatib, an analyst affiliated with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut. "I think it's well-received by most people. There is no survey, so I can't say how many people, but this is an impression I have," she told the Catholic News Service by phone from Dubai. Khatib referred to a tweet by Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar University and a top authority in Sunni Islam, who wished Pope Francis well in Iraq. The sheikh welcomed Pope Francis' "message of peace, solidarity and support to all Iraqi people" and expressed hope that "his trip achieves the desired outcome to continue on the path of human fraternity." Many Middle Eastern newspapers, such as the Saudi Arab News daily, and satellite TV stations ran live feeds of Pope Francis' pilgrimage to Iraq, where he has urged interreligious tolerance and fraternity and rejection of violence and terrorism. CNS