Pope congratulates Iraqi team on `historic` Asian Cup football win

Vatican City (ANTARA News) - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday congratulated Iraq for winning the Asian Cup football championship at the weekend, which he hailed as a "historic success".

"So often I have cried with the Iraqis; in this case I rejoice with them," the pope said.

The "good news about Iraq ... generated a popular explosion of joy in the entire country," Benedict was quoted by AFP as saying at the end of his weekly general audience.

"I was happily impressed with the enthusiasm that seized all the people, prompting them to take to the streets to celebrate," the 80-year-old German pope said.
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