Rabat: 01/02/2019

ISESCO Director General commends Pope’s new initiative to promote inter-faith relations

The Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, commended the new initiative of Pope Francis that calls for turning a new page in the history of interfaith relations, which he announced prior to his visit to the United Arab Emirates, scheduled for Sunday 3 February 2019.

In this regard, Dr Altwaijri said that Pope Francis’ initiativeis reaffirmedin ISESCO’s reference documents relevant to the promotion of intercultural dialogue, dissemination of the values of tolerance and coexistence between followers of religions and cultures. He added that the initiative is in line withthe Organization’s efforts to strengthen cooperation and understanding between Muslims and Christians and contribute to consolidating the foundations of world peace and security.

The Director General also welcomed Pope Francis’s visits to Member States, commending their noble goals to spread the values of respect, tolerance, and cooperation among followers of religions within a framework of shared human values; address the terrorist, extremist and hateful trends in the world; and curb defamation of religions and slurs against their sanctities.

It is worth noting that Pope Francis received Dr Altwaijri on 24 November 2014 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, where the Director General offered him ISESCO Gold Shield and a selection of ISESCO’s publications.