Cardinal Tauran promoting Christain-Muslim relations in Nigeria

(March 30, 2012) Vatican top official in charge of inter-religious dialogue is in Nigeria where he is engaged in important meetings between Christians and Muslims. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue on March 23 participated in the concluding part of a special meeting in Lagos, organized for diocesan directors in charge of the national dialogue in West Africa. The French cardinal then went the city of Jos, where he attended a Christian- Muslim dialogue and celebrated a Mass in St. Augustine Major Seminary. On Sunday he went to Kafanchan, one of the sites of violent clashes between Muslims and Christians in the past. There he visited a local training centre for both Christains and Muslims. On Monday, Cardinal Tauran visited the city of Sokoto, home to the Caliphate of Nigerian Muslims, where he was welcomed there with great cordiality by the sultan and the governor of the state. On Tuesday, Cardinal Tauran was received in the capital Abuja by Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan. There, he took part in a panel discussion on the role of religion in public life. On Wednesday, Cardinal Tauran was received by the heads of the central mosque in Abuja. Before returning to Rome o Saturday, he was to visit the diocese of Onitsha.