Manama, May 24 (BNA): The Standing Committee for Islamic-Christian Dialogue between the Vatican Office for Interreligious Dialogue and the Council of Muslim Elders held its first meeting in the Kingdom of Bahrain to discuss ways of uniting joint efforts based on its role. Religious leaders in facing contemporary global challenges and promoting Christian-Islamic dialogue and cooperation.
The committee noted the important role played by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in strengthening the foundations of fruitful and constructive dialogue, with the support of His Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, noting the efforts of the Kingdom. In consolidating the values of peace and coexistence among all.
The Permanent Committee for Islamic-Christian Dialogue was established under a joint memorandum of understanding between the Council of Muslim Elders based in Abu Dhabi and the Vatican City for Interfaith Dialogue as a direct result of the historic meeting held in the Kingdom of Bahrain last. November, which brought together the Council of Muslim Elders and senior leaders of the Catholic Church. The meeting was attended by His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence, the Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders.
In its closing statement, the Committee stressed the importance of promoting citizenship and abandoning the exclusionary use of the terms “minority” and “majority”. He also praised the Al-Azhar Declaration on Citizenship issued during the conference (Freedom and Citizenship: Diversity and Integration) between Al-Azhar and the Council of Muslim Elders, as well as the principles contained in the Document on Human Fraternity and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bahrain Declaration of Peaceful Coexistence.
The committee also stressed the importance of the efforts of religious leaders in addressing the negative effects of climate change and the risks it poses to the future of humanity. He highlighted the role that interreligious and intercultural dialogue can play in enhancing the participation of religious leaders and institutions in confronting climate change during the upcoming COP 28 conference. She also expressed her support for the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates in organizing the COP 28 conference to find effective solutions to address the negative climate effects that threaten the future and well-being of humanity.
The Standing Committee for Islamic-Christian Dialogue indicated the need to prepare a future project that includes various initiatives to promote dialogue between followers of different religions, with a special focus on Islamic-Christian dialogue. She stressed that the house of the Abrahamic family in Abu Dhabi represents a civilized model that preserves the uniqueness of each religion. And she stressed that the Abrahamic Family House embodies a practical application of the Abu Dhabi Document for Human Fraternity for the year 2019, which was signed by His Eminence Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the imam of Al-Azhar and the head of the Islamic Council of Islam. Sheikhs, His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. The Abrahamic Family House is a foundation for human dialogue between people of different faiths and a human foundation for coexistence and human brotherhood.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the Council of Muslim Elders, Judge Muhammad Abd al-Salam, Professor Dr. Abbas Shoman, former deputy of Al-Azhar, and His Excellency Mr. Ali Al-Amin, member of the Islamic Council. The Elders His Excellency Datuk Senator Dr. Zulkifli Muhammad Al-Bakri Member of the Council of Muslim Elders, Member of the Malaysian Senate and Former Malaysian Minister of Islamic Affairs His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Dirar Al Shaer Member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain representing His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs In the Kingdom of Bahrain and a member of the Council of Muslim Elders, Dr. Muhammad Al-Sammak, Secretary General of the National Committee for Christian-Islamic Dialogue in Lebanon, His Eminence Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso, Head of the Vatican Department for Interreligious Dialogue, Monsignor Khaled Okasha, Secretary of the Vatican Office for Interfaith Dialogue, and Monsignor Aldo Berardi Apostolic Vicar for Northern Arabia.