Pope Francis met Iraq’s president on Saturday and the two agreed that the country’s sovereignty must be respected, following attacks on Iraqi territory this month by the United States and Iran. The Iraqi parliament has passed a resolution ordering the 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq to leave the country. The pope discussed the Middle East with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Friday. The Vatican said the pope and Salih also discussed “the importance of preserving the historical presence of Christians in the country”. The Christian presence in Iraq and some other countries in the Middle East has been depleted by wars and conflicts.

Source: The Star January 25, 2020 12:45 UTC