Pope Francis meets powerful Shia cleric in Iraq

Pope Francis is holding a symbolic meeting with one of the most powerful figures in Shia Islam on the second day of his landmark trip to Iraq. The Pope's encounter with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of millions of Shia Muslims, is taking place in the holy city of Najaf. It is the Pope's first international trip since the start of the pandemic - and the first ever papal visit to Iraq. Covid-19 and security fears have made this the pontiff's riskiest trip yet.

The 84-year-old leader of the Catholic church earlier told reporters that he felt "duty-bound" to make the "emblematic" journey, which will see him visit several sites over four days in Iraq. The Pope's talks with the 90-year-old leading Shia cleric were likely to focus on inter-faith issues such as Iraq's Christian minority, who have been hit by waves of violence since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The pontiff will later travel to the ancient city of Ur, where the Prophet Abraham - central to Islam, Christianity and Judaism - is believed to have been born.

About 10,000 Iraqi Security Forces personnel are being deployed to protect the Pope during his visit, while round-the-clock curfews are also being imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus. Some Shia militant groups have reportedly opposed the visit, suggesting the tour amounts to Western interference in the country's affairs.