Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani is one of the most influential figures in Shiite Islam, both within Iraq and beyond, and they're meeting sent a powerful signal for religious coexistence in a country torn apart by violence.

That's a key theme of Francis's visit to Iraq, the first in history by a pontiff.

And to underscore it, he went on to the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, who is considered the father of Christians, Muslims and Jews Cosac billowing in the desert wind.

The pope told Christian, Muslim and Yazidi leaders that violence in the name of God was the greatest blasphemy within sight lay the remnants of a 4000 year old temple and palace complex.

The U.

S invasion of 2000 and three plunged Iraq into years of sectarian conflict.

The security has improved somewhat since the defeat of Islamic state in 2017.

Iraq's ancient Christian community has been devastated, falling to about 300,000 from about 1.5 million before the war.

Francis met 90 year old Sistani at the humble home he has rented for decades near the golden domed Imam Ali shrine in Najaf.

Afterwards, Sistani called on world religious leaders to hold great powers to account and for wisdom and sense to prevail over war.

He said Christians should, like all Iraqis, live in peace and coexistence.

Pope's four day visit to Iraq began in Baghdad on Friday.

It will include Mosul, the former Islamic state stronghold where churches and communities still bear the scars of conflict.