Holy See participating in interfaith conference in Istanbul

(September 07, 2012) Muslim and Christian perspectives on the Arab Spring and peace in the Middle East are the themes of a two-day international interfaith conference that kicked off on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered the opening address of the September 7-8 conference, held under the auspices of the Turkish Religious Foundation Centre for Islamic Studies and the Marmara University Institute for Middle Eastern Studies. The Conference brings 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.” The Secretary of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot is representing the Holy See at the meet. Fr. Ayuso, who was to address the gathering, told Vatican Radio that the his participation was meant 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.”