Catechism translated into Farsi by Iranian scholars

January 13, 2015

The Catechism of the Catholic Church has been translated into Farsi (modern Persian), the official language of Iran and Afghanistan.

The translation of the Catechism was unveiled at the Pontifical Gregorian University on January 12 by the president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and by Iran’s ambassador to the Holy See. The translation was completed by three Iranian Muslim scholars at the University of Religions and Denominations in Qom, Iran, and includes an introduction by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the pontifical council’s president.

“When we began to study other religions, some of us studied Christianity,” Professor Ahmad Reza Meftah said in an interview with the university’s website. “We needed an authoritative Christian source to study, for us and for our students ... we started to translate it in order to understand better the Catholic faith, both for ourselves and for our science.”

“It was fundamental to ask the nunciature for its permission to publish it, asking them to read it carefully,” Meftah added. “And they have confirmed our translation … For us and our students, it was important to know more about Christianity from what Christians say about themselves and not from what others say. Thus, we can remove misunderstandings and ideological schemes as well as foster respect for each other.”

 

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Further information:

• Nella lingua dei persiani (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 7)
• Catechism of the Catholic Church; Translated into Persian at URD, Unveiled in Rome (University of Religions and Denominations)
• Iran’s Christian population soars; Bible translated into Farsi (CWN, 11/13)