Holy See to address international interfaith conference in Istanbul
Muslim and Christian perspectives on the Arab Spring and peace in the Middle East
are the theme of an international interfaith conference in Istanbul, Turkey September
7-8. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will deliver the opening address
of the conference, held under the auspices of the Turkish Religious Foundation Center
for Islamic Studies and the Marmara University Institute for Middle Eastern Studies.
The
Conference aims to “bring together eminent regional figures such as scholars, intellectuals,
community and religious leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa with
a view to enhancing interfaith dialogue for the preservation of peaceful co-existence
among all communities from various religious, sectarian and ethnic backgrounds, against
the backdrop of the recent political developments in the region.” Foreign Affairs
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Professor Mahmet Gormez, President of the Directorate
of Religious Affairs are also expected to attend the conference.
The new Secretary
of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot
will address participants as the Holy See’s representative. In an interview with Vatican
Radio, Fr. Ayuso said the aim of his participation was to “add the voice of the Holy
See to those that support peaceful and orderly transition in the region as well as
the legitimate aspirations of the people of the Middle East and in particular North
Africa for freedom, dignity and democracy.”