Peace for entire humanity… embracing love, tolerance

The relations between Grand Imam of Al-Zhar and the Pope are good and strong, based on mutual respect, the common values of Islam and Christianity, and a desire to establish peace and coexistence around the globe, as well as denouncing violence and extremism, for enhancing inter-faith dialogue.

Though this relation goes through a kind of chilliness every now and then, on both sides, it is soon recovered, even stronger, thanks to the dire need for cooperation between the world’s top leading religious institutions.

As part of the efforts to enhance Al-Azhar-Vatican ties, the Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, on October 2, 2018, received a delegation from the Italian Catholic Church, led by Archbishop of Gaeta County.

Bishop Emmanuel Ayad Bishay, of Luqsor (Tebe), attended.

During the meeting, Al-Tayyeb reiterated the deep-rooted ties with the Catholic Church, and his strong friendship with Pope Francis, whom he referred to as “blessed, and a man of peace, who appeared on time.”

(Dr. Abbas Shuman)

Al-Azhar is keen on boosting ties with the Vatican, and it is stretching hands to whosoever that can serve humanity, ant not only Muslims, said former Al-Azhar Undersecretary Dr. Abbas Shuman.He also pointed to Islam’s universal message of “stability for the entire humanity.”

Shuman expected both sides to agree during the visit on resuming sessions of the inter-faith dialogue between them.

He also referred to the efforts by the Imam and the Pope to unify ranks and to work harder in order to counter armed terrorist groups in some Arab and Muslim countries, where extremist thoughts have claimed the lives of hundreds innocent souls.

For Al-Azhar, dialogue is basic for solving the problems of the world, especially the phenomenon of violence promoted by extremist and armed groups, leading to the spread of hatred among followers of different faiths.

For his part, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, said that Islam was the closest religion to Christianity. He added that the two religions share a common basis, referring to a document of the “second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican,” in the 1960s.

There are Muslims and Christians who became fanatic, and extremists due to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the religion, he added, noting that those think they are the “only ones on the right path.

Addressing a conference for resuming the dialogue with Al-Azhar, Tauran urged religious leaders to correct the distorted image of religions, and reiterat their rejection of “violence committed in the name a certain faith.

Islamophobia and political interests

On its part, Al-Azhar Islamophobia monitor, lauded statements by Pope Francis statements which stressed that terrorism had no relation to religions, neither Christianity, nor Islam or Judaism.

The statements have aimed a hard blow to those linking terrorism to Islam, especially some Western politicians of the extreme rightist current, who are only after personal gains and political interests.

So, they blame Muslims, migrants and refugees for the economic and social woes that hit their countries.

Political analyst Mokhtar Al-Ghubashi, deputy chairman of the Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, stressed that Al-Azhar is keen on continued ties with the Catholic Church “to correct the distorted image of religions, especially in countries suffering from terrorism.” 
Al-Ghubashi praised the meetings between Al-Azhar Grand Imam and the Pope, for further convergence of views