Pope Francis would be welcomed with
open arms in Iran if he were to accept an invitation to visit
the Middle Eastern country, its ambassador to the Holy See said
Wednesday.
"It would be an honour for us to welcome Pope Francis to
Tehran. We have open arms for the Holy Father. We always try to
make this happen", Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari told
Italian journalists after being asked whether there had ever
been talk of a possible trip by the Pope to Iran.
"He is a special person, a person respectful for Iran as for
other nations.
"There is this intention on both sides for the trip, Mokhtari
said on whether there was an official invitation.
"As ambassador I think it would be better to first invite
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the occasion of
the celebrations that we will soon have in Iran for the 70 years
of diplomatic relations. "This could be a start".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
