Pope Francis is set for a three-day visit to Iraq beginning Friday.
The Pope tweeted about the trip Thursday morning.
In a tweet, the Pope said, "I have long wanted to meet those people who have suffered so much. I ask you to accompany this apostolic journey with your prayers, so it may unfold in the best possible way and bear hoped-for fruits."
According to The Associated Press, Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are meeting Saturday for at most 40 minutes, part of the time alone except for interpreters, in the Shiite cleric’s modest home in the city of Najaf.
