[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       POPE FRANCIS' TRIP TO IRAQ

  (Mr. HILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the most important 
news of the past few days, which was not Oprah's interview with the 
Duke and Duchess. In fact, it was Pope Francis' historic trip to Iraq 
and his extraordinary meeting with Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani.
  Greeted by a release of white doves, Pope Francis, age 84, and the 
Grand Ayatollah, age 90, met for nearly an hour at the Grand 
Ayatollah's simple home in the city of Najaf. Together, they reinforced 
the Pope's and Islamic leaders' renewed formal and joint commitment to 
human fraternity.
  The Grand Ayatollah reinforced his belief that ``Christian citizens 
should live, like all Iraqis, in peace and security and with their full 
constitutional rights.''
  In the aftermath of the undisputed victory by the Iraqi, United 
States, and allied forces over the murderous caliphate of ISIS, the 
Pope's visit gives validation to the future of Iraq and its historic 
cultural and geographic roots of the three Abrahamic religions.
  To the people of Iraq, we American citizens pray for safety, 
prosperity, and peace for you and your families.

                          ____________________