蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam 鈥渨itnessed the whole journey鈥� undertaken by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb that is now an 鈥渋mmortal humanitarian story鈥�. In Rome last week, Judge Abdel Salam presented his recently-published book in Arabic entitled The Pope and the Grand Imam: A Thorny Path. In it, he chronicles their journey that unfolded before him.

Judge Abdel Salam stopped by the Pope studios on Saturday afternoon. He spoke with us about his book and his impressions of the Pope鈥檚 latest efforts in Iraq to advance human fraternity.

The Judge currently serves as the Secretary General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, whose goal is to implement the historic Document signed by the Pope and the Grand Imam. He said he met with Pope Francis on 8 April, along with two other Committee members, Cardinal Miguel Ayuso and Msgr Yoannis Gaid. Together they presented 鈥渟ome initiatives and some ideas for future projects鈥�. The Judge said the Pope鈥檚 feedback was positive.

His new book

鈥淚 was also extremely honored to have the chance to present my newly-published book on the journey of human fraternity鈥�, the Judge recounted. The Judge characterizes the journey made between the Pope and the Gran Imam as 鈥渋mmortal鈥�, one 鈥渢hat history will record and will never be forgotten.鈥� The journey, the Judge says, is 鈥渧ery inspiring鈥� because it involves two religious leaders from which people of all religions and any age can draw 鈥渓essons and benefits鈥�. This is what motivated the Judge to 鈥渨rite down every single detail鈥� as an eyewitness to every 鈥渆vent and step鈥� on that journey.

鈥淚 was deeply touched when I followed this course with them鈥�, the Judge related. This journey began in the Vatican when, on 23 May 2016, the Grand Imam came to visit his 鈥渂rother鈥�. Pope Francis reciprocated that visit when he went to Egypt in late April 2017. The Grand Imam then visited the Pope in the Vatican over and over again until the two 鈥渕et together in their joint summit in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates鈥�.

The Judge expressed how he felt obliged in conscience to recount for the 鈥渨orld and the next generations鈥� what he witnessed 鈥� all the 鈥渄etails鈥� of this 鈥渉istoric and unique journey and the relationship between these two great religious figures鈥�. He also hopes that people will 鈥渞ecognize the challenges and difficulties that by virtue of their boldness鈥�, these two leaders overcame 鈥渢o achieve great goals鈥�. It also demonstrates a 鈥減ractical model鈥�, he said, that everyone can follow. The Judge further explained that the book is the result of 鈥渆verything I had recorded in my diaries and my notes鈥�.

Pope: champion of human fraternity

Commenting on the Pope鈥檚 recent visit to Iraq, in which he took further steps along the journey of human fraternity, the Judge said that visit was one that was desperately needed in terms of human fraternity. Once again, the Judge highlighted the fact that Pope Francis overcame great challenges in order to make that visit: Covid-19, security concerns, the tremendous pain and suffering of the local populations in the aftermath of conflict. This is a great lesson to learn regarding human fraternity.

This path is none other than the achievement of international peace, the Judge continued. It is wrought with 鈥渄ifficulties, challenges and obstacles鈥�, he admitted. And, 鈥渋t really needs champions who can overcome all of these鈥�. The Grand Imam also acknowledged the 鈥渂old step鈥� Pope Francis was taking with the tweet he published prior to his trip to Iraq.

Pope鈥檚 one goal is peace

Judge Abdel Salam sees the Pope鈥檚 meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani as a 鈥渧ery important step on the path towards human fraternity鈥�. It is a new 鈥淸link] in the chain of human fraternity that is shaped and formed day by day.鈥� Pope Francis鈥檚 desire to help Iraq achieve unity, confirms, the Judge said, 鈥渢hat the Pope only sees one goal which is peace鈥�. Meeting with Al-Sistani is a 鈥渃all for hope for peaceful coexistence and sustainable peace in Iraq, in the Middle East Region and in the whole world鈥�.

Christians, the Judge said, are not minorities in the region. As members of the populations in which they live, they are 鈥渇ull citizens鈥�, with the same rights and duties as everyone else. That everyone 鈥渟hould be respected and mutually loved鈥� is the core message both the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar know is necessary to achieve peace throughout the world.