Pope Francis today welcomed four British imams for a private meeting in the Vatican to promote dialogue and close collaboration on social action in the UK.
The imams came with Cardinal Vincent Nichols
The Pope told the delegation that listening to each other was essential for the common future of humanity as we walk together in our shared lives. This ability to be attentive and to listen to each other, he said, is vital as we all seek a future together united in mercy and peace.
The audience was scheduled long before the March 22 attack, in which a Muslim man, Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing three, before fatally stabbing a policeman in the grounds of Parliament.
One of those who met Pope Francis, the head of the British Muslim Forum, Muhammad Shahid Raza, said yesterday that the Pope’s support and message of solidarity after the attack ‘strengthened our position that we, like other communities, condemn all terrorist activities’.
The delegation was led by Cardinal Nichols and made up of Raza along with Moulana Ali Raza Rizvi, Moulana Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi and Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra.
Cardinal Nichols has engaged in dialogue with a number of Muslim leaders in recent years and brought the delegation to Rome for the Papal Audience and meetings with Cardinal Tauran at the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.
Cardinal Nichols said: ‘We are deeply moved to meet Pope Francis and we draw great inspiration from his leadership and his encouragement to walk together on the road of profound spiritual dialogue.
‘I also hope that this moment will help the voice of authentic Islam to be heard clearly. We look forward to our continuing promotion of collaboration at a local level at the service of all in society.”
Raza added: ‘This is a historic moment when the two biggest religions in the world, Christians and Muslims, must come together in unity and solidarity for peace.’
Razawi said: ‘I was deeply moved by the audience with Pope Francis. I could see the sincerity and love in his eyes as he offered words of encouragement to all of us as we came together in unity. This is an important meeting offering hope for everyone, regardless of religion. There is a common humanity to all of us. Some seek to divide people, religions, east versus west, but there is no east or west; there is just our common humanity as we seek a peaceful future for all based on justice and compassion.’