Maliki invites Pope to visit Iraq to help peace

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki invited Pope Benedict on Friday to visit Iraq, saying it would help the process of 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," Maliki told reporters after holding private talks with the pontiff at his summer residence.

"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.

Maliki said he and the pope also discussed the plight of minority Christians in Iraq and the prime minister urged those who had left after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to return to help rebuild the country.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella)