IRAQ : A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Pope Francis met with Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, leader of the Shiite muslims in Iraq.

Two old men gave the world a message that few if any could match. In less than one hour they did the impossible, reaching out over an abyss of tragedy, war and prejudice. Both had to confront the odds that continue to be set against them. If one needs to find a candidate for Nobel Peace Prize, don't look any further.

Iraq showed that the country was more than the sum of the tragedies that befell it.

Old men, who carry the frail relevance of beliefs under stress, showed a grandeur hard to come by in these cruel untrustworthy times.