Vatican works to rekindle dialogue with Sunni Muslim scholars

July 12, 2016

Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, will travel to Egypt soon to meet with leaders of Al Azhar University, the Vatican announced on July 12.

The visit will follow up on the May meeting in Rome between Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmad al-Tayyib, the head of Al Azhar University. The purpose of the bishop's visit to Cairo, the Vatican said, will be to explore ways to resume official dialogue between the Vatican and the Egyptian institution.

Al Azhar, which is generally recognized as the foremost institution in the Sunni Muslim world, had engaged in regular exchanges with the Holy See until 2011, when the Egyptian clerics broke off relations to protest remarks by Pope Benedict XVI condemning suppression of Christians in Egypt. Plans to resume the regular exchanges were announced earlier this year.

 

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Further information:

• Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to visit Al-Azhar University (Vatican press office)
• Top Sunni Muslim cleric meets with Pontiff (CWN, 5/23)