Pope meets Iraqi prime minister

(July 25, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI and Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Kamel Al-Maliki on Friday condemned the violence that is destroying Iraq and called for greater dialogue, understanding and coexistence among the various religious and ethnic communities. Pope Benedict XVI on received visiting Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Kamel Al-Maliki, at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, and the two held talks on several issues. A Vatican statement said they reviewed some of fundamental aspects of the situation in Iraq, including the regional context. Special attention was given to the problem of the large number of Iraqi refugees, both inside as well as outside the country, who need help… Both the leaders condemned the violence that continues to hit the various parts of the country almost on a daily basis, without sparing the Christian communities, who strongly feel the need for greater security. Pope Benedict and Al-Maliki hoped that Iraq will be able to decisively find the road to peace and development through dialogue and collaboration among all the ethnic and religious groups, including minorities, who respectful of individual identities and in a spirit of reconciliation and search for common good, will together contribute to the moral and civil reconstruction of the country. In this regard, the importance of inter-religious dialogue was stressed as a way to religious understanding and civil coexistence. During the meeting, Iraqi prime minister invited the Pope to visit his country. Prior to meeting the Pope, Al-Maliki held talks with Vatican Secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.