Al-Azhar and the Vatican have agreed to hold a joint meeting to discuss resuming relations after a fallout following controversial statements made by Pope Benedict XVI.
Al-Azhar claims a speech in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI's in Regensburg, Germany related Islam to violence, which began a downfall in relations between the two religious entities.
Undersecretary of Al-Azhar Abbas Shouman will receive Bishop Miguel Angel, the envoy of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Vatican 's ambassador to Cairo for the joint meeting.
Al-Azhar always extends its hands for all that serve humanity and not only Muslims, said Shouman, stressing the need for concerted efforts to achieve peace in the world.
Shouman also mentioned The Egyptian Family House, which combines Muslim and Christian officials and is an experience we are proud of as it unites Muslim and Christian brothers and has been able to solve social problems between the peoples of Egypt.
Al-Azhar and the Vatican have not signed a new agreement since 1989, a time that presented different circumstances from what the world is going through today, said Shouman. The new agreeement must be re-considered and adjusted in line with current developments in order to contribute strongly to confronting terrorism and achieving peace and stability.
Shouman said the world awaits the meeting between Al-Azhar's grand sheikh and the Vatican pope in order to send a message of peace to the world and stand against advocates of violence, terrorism, and extremism.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
