Pope hails dialogue ahead of meeting with Iraq cleric By AFP - Feb 08,2021 - Last updated at Feb 08,2021 Pope Francis speaks from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square during the weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday in the Vatican (AFP photo) VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis hailed the power of inter-religious dialogue on Monday as the Vatican confirmed he would meet Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani during his forthcoming trip to Iraq. The March 5-8 visit — the first ever by a Pope — will include stops in Baghdad, Najaf, Nasiriya, Erbil, Mosul and Qaraqosh, according to the official itinerary published by the Vatican.