Shafaq News / Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar said on Friday the visit of the Pope to Iraq is courageous and carries a message of peace.

"The historic and courageous visit of my brother Pope Francis to dear Iraq carries a message of peace, solidarity and support for all the Iraqi people. I pray to God for success, and that this trip will achieve the hopes on the path of human brotherhood." Al-Tayeb said in a tweet.

Pope Francis arrived on Friday in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad in a historic first papal visit.

The Pope says the trip is an “act of love” for Iraq’s Christian population decimated by militant attacks and the ISIS takeover of much of the country.

During his four-day visit, the 84-year-old Pope will reach out to Shiite Muslims when he meets Iraq's top cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

Security is tight in Iraq; thousands of security forces are spread around the Country to protect him.

The pope's visit has deeply touched Iraq's Christians, whose numbers have collapsed over years of persecution and sectarian violence, from 1.5 million in 2003 to fewer than 400,000 today.