Sistani Expresses to Pope his Disappointment in Iraqi Politicians

Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, at his home in Najaf city, receives Pope Francis on March 6, 2021. (Sistani's Media OfficeAFP)
Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, at his home in Najaf city, receives Pope Francis on March 6, 2021. (Sistani's Media OfficeAFP)
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Sistani Expresses to Pope his Disappointment in Iraqi Politicians

Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, at his home in Najaf city, receives Pope Francis on March 6, 2021. (Sistani's Media OfficeAFP)
Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, at his home in Najaf city, receives Pope Francis on March 6, 2021. (Sistani's Media OfficeAFP)

Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani expressed to Pope Francis his disappointment in Iraqi politicians, revealed Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, after the Pontiff concluded his historic visit to the country.

In televised remarks, Sako, who was among the four official who attended their historic talks in Najaf city, said the meeting was supposed to only last 15 minutes, but ended up lasting 50.

Sako went into details about their meeting, saying Sistani, 90, personally received the pope, rising up from his seat to warmly shake his hands for a long time.

The politicians have disappointed him, said Sako of Sistani, who accused them of prioritizing personal interests above national ones, forcing him to refuse to meet with any of them.

The pope responded that politicians often seek personal interests above national ones.

Sistani has not met any of Iraq’s top officials, including the president, prime minister and parliament speaker, since 2015 in protest against their poor performance, rampant corruption throughout the state and failure to address society’s real problems.

He does however, receive international officials, who are visiting Iraq, including United Nations representatives.

Sistani had also voiced his support for popular anti-government protests that erupted in October 2019.

Asked whether any politician had requested to join the pope’s meeting with Sistani, Sako said no one did.

He revealed that Sistani discussed how major powers exploit wars for their interests.

At the end of their meeting, Sistani personally saw the pope to the door, holding hands while exchanging warm gratitude for the visit and reception.

On the return flight back to Rome on Monday, Pope Francis described his meeting with Sistani as "good for my soul", reported AFP.

"He is a person with this wisdom but also prudence. He told me that for the last 10 years, he has not received any visitors with political or cultural objectives, only those with religious motives.

"He was very respectful during our meeting and I felt honored. He never gets up to greet visitors, but he got up to greet me twice."



UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
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UN Calls for Independent Probe into Civilians Harmed Trying to Get Food in Gaza

 Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians carry bags filled with food and humanitarian aid provided by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed as "unacceptable" the deaths of Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza, a spokesman said, calling the loss of life in the territory "unthinkable".

"The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for the perpetrators to be held to account," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

"We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza (and) the secretary-general condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid," he said. "It is unacceptable civilians are risking and in several instances losing their lives just trying to get food."

At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, local health authorities said, in the third day of chaos and bloodshed to affect the aid operation.

A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters that its field hospital in Rafah received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were declared dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.

The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting.

The Foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles.

The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".

However, there have been reports of repeated killings near Rafah as crowds gather to get desperately needed supplies.

On Sunday, Palestinian and international officials reported that at least 31 people were killed and dozens more injured. On Monday, three more Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli fire.

The Israeli military has denied targeting civilians gathering for aid and called reports of deaths during Sunday’s distribution "fabrications" by Hamas.