| Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Receives Undersecretary for General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State... |
** H.H also expressed his hopes for continued cooperation with
Al-Azhar in spreading the message of peace and fraternity to the entire
world.
|
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Receives Undersecretary for General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State to Discuss Cooperation
02/11/2025
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: His Eminence the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, received today, Saturday, at Al-Azhar headquarters in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Undersecretary for General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State, accompanied by Archbishop Nicholas Tavenin, the Vatican Ambassador to Cairo.
At the beginning of the meeting, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, Pope of the Catholic Church, to His Eminence the Grand Imam, expressing his anticipation of meeting him and his wishes for his continued health and well-being. His Holiness also expressed his hopes for continued cooperation with Al-Azhar in spreading the message of peace and fraternity to the entire world.
The Undersecretary for General Affairs at the Vatican Secretariat of State expressed his delight at meeting the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and his appreciation for His Eminence's efforts in establishing the values of global peace and human fraternity. He affirmed that the historic Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Eminence with the late Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, will remain etched in the annals of history, representing the convergence of religions in spreading the values of goodness. He emphasized the alignment of His Eminence's vision regarding current affairs with that of Pope Leo XIV, underscoring the necessity of continued joint action for the benefit of humanity.
For his part, the Grand Imam affirmed the depth of the relations between Al-Azhar and the Vatican, which were significantly strengthened during the papacy of the late Pope Francis. He noted that they had witnessed Pope Francis's love of peace and commitment to dialogue from their very first meeting, a sentiment echoed by Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, through their telephone conversations and his pronouncements and stances regarding the vulnerable, particularly in the wounded Gaza Strip and Sudan. He expressed his hope for continued cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Vatican in disseminating the message of peace, fraternity, and dialogue among all people. Regarding contemporary challenges, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar affirmed that the world today is experiencing chaos and irrationality, dominated by the arms trade, violence, and the arrogance of power. The strength of nations is now measured by their capacity to destroy humanity and the extent of the chaos and devastation they can unleash, to the point where innocent lives have become worthless. All of this stems from the marginalization of religious and moral values, attempts to separate them from social life, and the weakening of their role and ability to guide people towards the values of goodness and compassion.
His Eminence indicated that Al-Azhar is committed to spreading the message of peace and brotherhood and dedicating its efforts to the vulnerable and needy. He emphasized that the world today is in dire need of establishing a culture of interfaith dialogue and affirming that religions do not clash or fight, as some falsely claim. Rather, religions engage in dialogue and converge on the imperative of establishing peace for all, regardless of religion, race, or color.
At the end of the meeting, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar asked the Undersecretary for General Affairs at the Vatican Secretariat of State to convey his invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit Al-Azhar.
|
