Al-Azhar-Vatican relations set effective model for spreading tolerance, countering extremism: Grand Imam

CAIRO – 4 December 2021: Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb said Al-Azhar relations with the Vatican remain a model for spreading peace and tolerance and countering extremism, hate, wars, and conflicts.

This came during a meeting with Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, on Saturday.

The path of peace and dialogue is arduous and hard but walking through it and exerting efforts is the duty of everyone, Tayeb said during the meeting.

He added that the world will not be stabilized by the economy of weapons that is based on igniting strife and wars and killing people. Instead, the world urgently requires the values of brotherhood and peaceful coexistence.

For his part, the president of the Pontifical Council expressed his appreciation for the joint efforts led by the Grand Imam and Pope Francis in laying the foundations for peace and stability.

He affirmed that the meetings of the Imam and the Pope send messages of affection and peace to followers of religions worldwide.