Pope Francis held a historic meeting with revered Shia Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on the second day of the pontiff's visit to Iraq.

Iraq's top Shiite al-Sistani and Pope Francis delivered a strong message of harmonic co-existence, urging warring Arab nations to happily accept Iraq's long-beleaguered Christian minority in a notable historic meeting held in the holy city of Najaf.

Grand Ayatollah ensured the peaceful and prosperous life of Christians in Iraq and they shall enjoy equal rights as the other Iraqis.

He added that the religious authorities have an important role to play in this achievement.

Al-Sistani, 90, is a deeply revered figure in Iraq. He is one of the most senior clerics in Shiite Islam.