Pope tells Iraqi leader Christians need protection

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Benedict told Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Friday that minority Christians in Iraq needed more protection but the Iraqi leader assured him that Christians were not being persecuted. Maliki, who met the pope for 20 minutes at the pontiff's summer residence south of Rome, invited the pontiff to visit Iraq, saying a trip there would help the process of peace and reconciliation. "We renewed our invitation for His Holiness to visit Iraq. He welcomed the invitation. And we hope that he will be making the visit as soon as he can," he told reporters in the palace after the meeting. "His visit would represent support for the efforts of love and peace in Iraq," he added. The late Pope John Paul wanted to visit Iraq in 2000 but was denied permission by the government of Saddam Hussein.... [read full story]