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Vatican City, May 23, 2016 / 10:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Monday embraced the grand imam Sheik Ahmed Muhammad Al-Tayyib during a meeting at the Vatican, a move which is being seen as a step toward reopening dialogue between Christians and Sunni Muslims.

“Our meeting is the message,” the Pope was heard to have said to the imam during the meeting.

The pontiff and Al-Tayyib, who is the grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque, observed the significance of the meeting “within the framework of dialogue between the Catholic Church and Islam,” said Holy See press office director Fr. Federico Lombardi.

They addressed the commitment on the part of authorities and the faithful of major religions alike to toward bringing world peace, “the rejection of violence and terrorism, and the situation of Christians in the context of conflicts and tensions in the Middle East and their protection.”

Following their 30 minute “very cordial” meeting in the pontiff's private library, Pope Francis presented the iman with a medallion depicting an olive of peace, as well as a copy of his Encyclical “Laudato Si.”

Al-Tayyib was joined by a large delegation, which was joined by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Holy See, Hatem Seif Elnasr.

The imam also met with the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, and secretary of that council, Msgr. Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot.

The meeting comes five years after Pope Benedict XVI denounced a New Year's Eve attack which killed 21 people at a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria, and called for better protection of Christian communities. According to the AP, the Al-Azhar in Cairo put a freeze on talks with the Holy See as a result of Benedict's remarks.

However, while the persecution of Christians has increased in the region, steps had recently been taken toward reopening dialogue.

In February, a Holy See delegation in Cairo extended an invitation for el-Tayyib to visit the Pope at the Vatican.

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Vatican City, May 23, 2016 / 11:49 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Former Pope Benedict XVI could appear in public once again on June 29, the 65th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Speaking after the May 20 presentation of a book dedicated to Benedict XVI’s pontificate, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household and private secretary to the retired Pope, said that “there will be another occasion to see the Pope emeritus in public.”

“Benedict XVI will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the pontificate June 29, and we will see what we will be able to manage…this may present an opportunity to show that Benedict XVI is well.”

The Catholic Church celebrates the martyrdom of Peter and Paul on June 29, patron saints of the city of Rome. On this feast, newly created metropolitan archbishops celebrate Mass with the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica and receive the pallium, the primary symbol of their office.

Benedict XVI has appeared in public half a dozen times since he stepped down three years ago.

He took part in both of Pope Francis’ first two cardinal-creating consistories, held Feb. 22, 2014 and Feb. 14, 2015. He was also present Sept. 27, 2014 at the Festival of Grandparents. He con-celebrated the canonization Mass of John XXIII and John Paul II Apr. 27, 2014, and he took part in Paul VI’s beatification Mass Oct. 19, 2015. He was also the first pilgrim to pass through the Holy Door after Pope Francis at the inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy on Dec. 8, 2015.

Pope Francis and Benedict XVI have also had several private meetings, some of them documented with pictures.

Pope Francis visited Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo March 23, 2013, and he welcomed the retired pontiff back in the Vatican May 2 of that year. The two Popes together blessed the St. Michael the Archangel statue displayed in the Vatican Gardens July 5, 2013.

Pope Francis also went to wish Benedict XVI Christmas greetings Dec. 23, 2013, and the retired Pope in turn had lunch with Pope Francis in Domus Sanctae Marthae Dec. 27, 2013.

If Benedict does make a public appearance June 29, it would commemorate a very powerful moment in his life and ministry.

Joseph Ratzinger – who would become Benedict XVI – was ordained a priest June 29, 1951, in the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Corbinian in Freising, Germany.

Later, in the same cathedral, he recalled the event, speaking off-the-cuff to priests and permanent deacons Sep. 14, 2006.

On that occasion, a visibly moved Benedict XVI recounted: “Now that I am back in this cathedral, many memories come to me as I see before me my old companions, and also the young priests who are handing on the message, the torch of the faith. Memories of my ordination, of which Cardinal Wetter has spoken, come to mind.”

Looking at the altar, the Pope went on: “Here I lay prostrate, enveloped by the litany of all the saints, by the intercession of all the saints. I realized that on this path we are not alone, that the great multitude of saints walk with us, and the living saints, the faithful of today and tomorrow, sustain us and walk with us. Then came the laying on of hands, and finally Cardinal Faulhaber proclaimed to us: ‘Iam non dico vos servos sed amicos’ –‘I do not call you servants, but friends’; at that moment, I experienced my priestly ordination as an initiation into the community of Jesus’ friends, called to be with him and to proclaim his message.”

 

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(Vatican Radio) Amongst the high profile organizations committed to humanitarian action who are present at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul is the Sovereign Order of Malta, reaffirming its over 900-year old commitment and its present global outreach to those in need.

The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta Albrecht Boeselager told Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni why he believes the World Humanitarian Summit represents a unique and unprecedented opportunity:

Listen: 

The Grand Chancellor explains that “First: it’s the first time the UN has called for a World Summit dealing with humanitarian issues as the theme of the conference”.

Second – he goes on to say the Sovereign Order of Malta is extremely concerned that the respect for humanitarian law and humanitarian principle is declining in many regions of the world and he hopes that the summit will help to remind the signatory States of the Convention (and all other actors) that they have to respect the principles of humanitarian law and treat people accordingly.

Thirdly – he says- within this context he believes that religious organizations and faith-based groups have much to contribute as regards peace-making and peace-keeping and this capacity should be remembered, highlighted and used in regions of conflict.

“Many people see different religious or conflicts between religions as one of the major causes of war, which in fact is not true: recent researches have shown that  religions are not the cause for conflicts but are very often misused to fuel conflict or to give justification to conflict” he says.

Boeselager says that the engagement and commitment of religious institutions and faith-based organizations is very important, and that the Sovereign Order of Malta firmly believes it would be counter-productive to ignore the fact that they are fundamental in situations of humanitarian assistance and protection.

“90% of the world population belongs to a religion, a religious infrastructure is present in most regions and people have trust in religious leaders in most cases, so it would be stupid not to rely on those infrastructures and to include them in negotiations while distributing humanitarian goods” he says.

He points out that they know what the needs are at all stages: before, during and after crises.
  
“It’s an infrastructure that is most appropriate to be involved in humanitarian aid” he says.
  
The Summit is organized around five core commitments and the Sovereign Order of Malta endorses all of them. 

Boeselager says of the five the one he feels is most “actual” is the one regarding how we treat refugees and migrants.

“It’s a very hot potato at the moment, there is a lot of disagreement among the different nations but we must uphold the dignity of these people and treat them as children of God” he says.

He says the Sovereign Order of Malta is committed to continue to help migrants and refugees in precarious situations.

The Grand Chancellor points out that the Order has been active in the field of refugees for many decades in different parts of the world.     

He says his hope for the outcome of the summit is that “the attention of the world is drawn more intensely to the humanitarian tragedy which is unfolding and  that awareness is raised regarding the challenges we are facing”.

He expresses concern in particular for the increasing violations of humanitarian principles which, he points out, in most cases are committed by militant groups which are not State armies and therefore have not signed the humanitarian conventions, but he says “we also see an increasing number of States who are violating the humanitarian principles”.

Boeselager says “We hope that the attention will be drawn to this scandal” and on a more practical level we hope that some burocratic procedures regarding financing and coordinating humanitarian aid will be approved.

The Grand Chancellor concludes speaking of impact of Pope Francis in giving voice to the voiceless, calling for peace, upholding the rights of the most vulnerable:

“I think his position and his voice cannot be overestimated. He is one of the few, if not the only uncompromised authority in this field. So his action and his appeals are of crucial value for all who are active in the field and of course for all the victims”. 

To find out more about the commitments and involvement of the Sovreign Order of Malta at the WHS click here.

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(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis received in audience in the Vatican on Monday the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheik Ahmed Muhammad Al-Tayyib.  

In a note, the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi sj. said the approximately 30 minute meeting was “very cordial” and that the Grand Imam of Egypt “was accompanied by an important delegation, which included: Dr. Abbas Shouman, Undersecretary of Al-Azhar; Dr. Mahmaoud Hamdi Zakzouk, member of the Council of Senior Scholars of Al-Azhar University and Director of the Center for Dialogue of Al-Azhar; Judge Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, Advisor to the Great Imam; Dr. Mohie Afifi Afifi Ahmed, secretary-general of the Islamic Research Academy; Ambassador Mahmoud Abdel Gawad, Diplomatic Advisor to the Grand Imam; Mr. Tamer Tawfik, Advisor; and Mr Ahmad Alshourbagy, Second Secretary. The delegation was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Holy See, Mr. Hatem Seif Elnasr.

Upon his arrival in the Vatican, the Grand Imam was welcomed, and then accompanied to his audience with the Pope, by the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Card. Jean-Louis Tauran, and by the Secretary of the same dicastery, Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot. 

Fr. Lombardi further states that the Pope and Grand Imam noted “the great significance of this new meeting in the framework of dialogue between the Catholic Church and Islam.” The two then mainly “discussed the common commitment of the authorities and the faithful of the great religions for peace in the world, the rejection of violence and terrorism, the situation of Christians in the context of conflicts and tensions in the Middle East and their protection.”

During the meeting, Pope Francis gave the Grand Imam the Medallion of the olive tree of peace and a copy of his Encyclical Letter Laudato si'.

Following his audience with the Holy Father, the Grand Imam and his delegation met briefly with Cardinal Tauran and Bishop Guixot Ayuso in another audience hall in the Apostolic Palace.  

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