Vatican reaffirms position of openness to dialogue with Islam

Holy See Press office director Fr Federico Lombardi S.J., reaffirmed the Vatican’s position of “openness and readiness to dialogue” with Islam Thursday, following the announcement earlier in the day by the highest institution in Sunni Islam of its decision to indefinitely freeze its dialogue.

The decision of Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, Grand Imam and president of al-Azhar University in Cairo, and members of the Islamic Research Academy came mid morning after an extraordinary meeting called by the Academy. Reacting to the news, the Director of the Holy See Press Office Fr. Lombardi stated that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is collecting the information needed to adequately understand the situation, and determine how to proceed.

Previously on 2 January, the Grand Imam had spoken against the Pope's New Year’s appeal to world leaders to protect Christians in the wake of the attack on the community in Alexandria, Egypt. An appeal he described as unacceptable interference. On that occasion, Fr Lombardi had immediately emphasized that the Pope had naturally spoken of solidarity with the Coptic community, but had also expressed concern for the consequences of violence on the whole population, Christian and Muslim.

The statement issued by Al-Azhar Thursday morning also accused the Pope of a frequently negative attitude to Islam.

The halt to dialogue, moreover comes one month before the next scheduled meeting of the Joint Committee for Dialogue of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Permanent Committee of al-Azhar for Dialogue among the Monotheistic Religions.

Fr. Lombardi concluded his statement Thursday reaffirming that the Vatican’s position remains one of openness and readiness to dialogue.