The Opening of the 10th Round of Religious Dialogue between Iran and the Vatican

Cardinal Touran: We should prevent the spread of religious disease

Rasa – During the opening ceremony of the 10th round of religious dialogue between Iran and the Vatican, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue emphasized on the continued and deep friendly relations between Islam and Christianity and stated: “We should prevent the spread of religious disease.”

News ID: 425292

Date: 25 November 2016 - 13:56

RNA – According to the Public Relations of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, the tenth round of religious dialogue between the International Centre for Interreligious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue was started in the place of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on Tuesday, November 22 with the presence of Cardinal Jean Louis-Pierre Touran, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and Dr. Abouzar Ebrahimi Torkaman, the head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the head of Policy-Making Council of Religions, Hujjat al-Islam Rabbani, the Iranian ambassador to the Vatican and Akbar Gholi, the Iranian cultural attaché in Italy.

In the opening ceremony, Cardinal Jean Louis-Pierre Touran said: “We are very pleased that in these two days we can share hope, concerns and thoughts with each other about the most important issues for Muslims and Catholics.”

The President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue continued: “Our presence in this meeting means continued and deep friendly relations between us. The fourth Muslim-Christian Summit held in Tehran is another sign of good relations.”

Referring to many problems in some parts of the world and in some cities and countries, the deputy to the Pope in another part of his speech stated: “For many centuries the Muslims and Christians have lived together and we should know that one of the important functions of religion is to protect people against the religious disease and among those who turn to fundamentalism and violence in the name of religion and pursue their personal and national interests we believe that religions can play a crucial role in reconciliation and peace and protect the Earth, which is our common home.”

Raising the question that if religions are a part of problems or a solution for them, he stated: “Religions are the solution to problems and even when we face problems we talk to each other which is a sign of hope.”

Pointing to the problems such as climate change, desertification, scarcity of water resources, air, water and land pollution and the challenges that threaten these issues, the Deputy to the Pope added: “We cannot forget the challenges and problems that cause hunger, tension, hostility, mass migrations of humans, human trafficking, etc.”

At the end of his speech, Cardinal Jean Louis-Pierre Touran stated: “We have gathered in this meeting with the spirit of brotherhood, wisdom and hope and pray and work for people around the world which contribute to a positive and valuable role for peace, security and blessing to all members of the human family.”

According to this report, figures present in this meeting included Dr. Abouzar Ebrahimi Torkaman, the head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, Miguel Ayuso, the secretary of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Monsignor Khaled Akashe, the Secretary of the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims, and a number of prominent academic figures of Vatican and Iranian prominent figures such as Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Mahdi Khamoushi, the head of Islamic Propaganda Organization, Mohammad-Javad Sahebi, the head of Academic Council of Iranian Secretariat of Religion Researchers, Hujjat al-Islam Mohammad Masjed-Jame’i, the member of Policy-Making Council of Religions, Hujjat al-Islam Abdol-Hoseyn Khosropanah, the head of the Institute for Research in Philosophy in Iran, Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Mortaza Javadi-Amoli, the head of al-Isra International Institute of Revelatory Sciences, Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri, advisor to the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Hujjat al-Islam Abolghasem Alidoust Abarghouei, the faculty member of the Research Institute of Islamic Culture and Thought, Seyyed Yahya Yasrebi, the professor of Philosophy Department of Allamah Tabatabai University, and Hayedeh Ramazan Rostamabadi, from Catholic Christianity Department of the International Centre for Interreligious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.

It is noteworthy that the 10th round of religious dialogue between Iran and the Vatican entitled “Extremism and Violence in the Name of Religion; which Approach to Religion?” is being held in Rome for two days (November 22 and 23).

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