VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 2004 (VIS) - The Joint Committee between the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and the Permanent Committee of al-Ahzar for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions, established in Rome on May 28, 1998, will be meeting in Rome today and tomorrow on the topic "Avoiding Generalization in Speaking of the other's Religion or Community, The Ability to be Self-Critical." A public session will be held this afternoon at 4 at the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
A special Agreement, built on already-existing contacts, was made in 1998 with the al-Azhar Institute because of this institution's millennia-old history and its outreach to Muslims throughout the world.
The purpose of the Joint Committee, according to Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the council for inter-religious dialogue, "is to foster research into common values, work for the promotion of justice and peace, and for the promotion of respect for religions. It provides a forum for exchanges on matters of mutual interests, such as the defense of human dignity and of human rights, and the promotion of mutual knowledge and respect among Catholics and Muslims. The Committee pays special attention to the role of religious leaders in promoting these values."
Archbishop Fitzgerald and Sheikh Fawzy al-Zafzaf, president of the Permanent Committee of al-Azhar for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions, are co-presidents of this Joint Committee. Other members include a co-secretary and a maximum of three members on each side. Experts are invited to meetings as necessary.
The Committee meets at least once a year, alternately in Cairo and in Rome. The meeting usually take place on or near February 24, in commemoration of Pope John Paul II's historic visit to al-Azhar on that date in 2000.
CON-DIR/MUSLIMS:CATHOLICS/FITZGERALD VIS 20040224 (290)
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