Vatican resumes relations with al-Azhar

(AGI) Vatican City, Feb 17 - Pope Francis and the Holy See have achieved a milestone event by resuming relations with al-Azhar. Following the Regensburg incident of 2006, al-Azhar's Sunni Muslims 'froze' relations with the Vatican. On Tuesday, Monsignor Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, made a visit to al-Azhar University in Cairo, a prestigious Sunni Muslim institution for learning, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt, Archbishop Bruno Musaro. The delegation was hosted by Abbas Shuman, the deputy of the Great Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyib. The Holy See's press room informed that "the meeting took place in an atmosphere of great cordiality, discussing the need to resume a dialogue between the two institutions, as called for by Pope Francis and several persons of good will. The two parties agreed on the importance of continuing and strengthening this dialogue for the good of humanity." A communique reported that the Secretary of the Pontifical Ministry, Monsignor Ayuso, presented a letter from Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in which he expressed his willingness to welcome the Great Imam and escort him officially to an audience with the Holy Father. The Holy See thanked "all those who helped with the success of the visit to al-Azhar, and hopes that it will lead to a fruitful cooperation". (AGI). .