The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb received Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Egypt’s Minister of Awqaf (Endowments), accompanied by a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), led by Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, President of the CBCP, and Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Charmaine A. Aviquivil, at Al-Azhar’s headquarters.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Egyptian-Philippine program for religious leaders on dialogue, coexistence and peacebuilding, titled “The Egyptian Experience in Peaceful Coexistence and Building an Inclusive Society.”
“I am pleased to welcome this distinguished delegation,” the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar said, emphasizing that the meeting represents a form of sincere and calm dialogue between Muslims and Christians.
The Grand Imam also recalled his many memories with the late Pope Francis, saying they demonstrated that the former pontiff was “a man of peace par excellence.” He noted that they both had worked together for over a year to come up with the Document on Human Fraternity, intended as a global guide for promoting peace, fraternity and coexistence among people, regardless of their colors, ethnicities or faiths.
His Eminence Al-Tayeb also added that Islam is a religion of coexistence, tolerance and acceptance of others. He cited the Prophet Muhammad’s decision to send a group of persecuted and vulnerable Muslims to the neighboring Christian kingdom of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) when he feared for their safety. Among those who emigrated were the Prophet’s daughter and her husband.
He also pointed to Islam’s permission for Muslim men to marry Christian and Jewish women, exchange love and affection with them, and have them as the mothers of their children and partners in life. He added that a Muslim husband is religiously obligated to accompany his non-Muslim wife to her places of worship.
The Grand Imam also highlighted the Egyptian Family House, describing it as a unique Egyptian initiative established through cooperation between Al-Azhar and Egypt’s churches. The institution is jointly headed by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church on a rotating six-month basis.
The initiative, he said, works to strengthen national fraternity, contributes to curb various forms of sectarian strife and attempts to avoid division among citizens, in accordance with religious teachings that promote dialogue, fraternity and coexistence.
For his part, Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and Archbishop of Lipa, expressed his happiness at meeting the Grand Imam on behalf of himself and the delegation.
He described the gathering as a “dialogue of memories” between Muslims and Christians, recalling what he had personally witnessed of the values of coexistence, dialogue and fraternity shared by the Grand Imam and the late Pope Francis.
Archbishop Garcera also highlighted to the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity and the principles of fraternity and dialogue which the Document highlighted and presented to the world as a guide for advancing these noble values in a world facing numerous challenges.
The delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines included:
- Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera, president of the CBCP and Archbishop of Lipa.
- Bishop Ronald Anthony Timoner, Bishop of Pagadian and chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Culture.
- Archbishop Ricardo Baccay, Archbishop of Tuguegarao and chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Public Affairs.
- Bishop Leo Dalmao, Claretians, bishop-prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Isabela.
- Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop Emeritus of Cagayan de Oro.
- Fr. Romeo S. Saniel, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue.
- Msgr. Bernardo R. Pantin, secretary-general of the CBCP.
- Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs.
- Fr. Briand Restituto, assistant secretary-general of the CBCP.
- Fr. Miguel Samaniego, human resources director of the CBCP.