AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, who has traveled to Côte d’Ivoire at the invitation of the country’s religious figures, met with Cardinal Ignace Dogbo Bessi, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Côte d’Ivoire and the Vatican’s representative in the country.
In the meeting, referring to Cardinal Ignace Dogbo Bessi’s prominent status in Côte d’Ivoire, Ayatollah Ramazani told him, “Given your significant position within the Catholic Church in Côte d’Ivoire, there is no doubt that you can play an influential role in fostering interaction and dialogue between Islam and Christianity, and in continuing the path that Pope Francis has followed in the field of interfaith dialogue. I believe such dialogue must be sustained and actively pursued. By visiting Iran, you will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from representatives of religious minorities about the Islamic Republic’s respect for these communities.”
He continued, “Today, the world faces widespread poverty, discrimination, injustice, and other issues that undermine human dignity. We must not merely raise slogans about dignity; religious leaders have a vital role to play in the realization of just peace. Pope Francis’ approach to the poor, along with his humility and respect for them, signifies that today’s leaders must make greater efforts to uphold human dignity.”
Expressing his concern over the oppression and injustices endured by people around the world, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “We are witnessing the killing of defenseless women and children. To achieve peace, we must take practical steps, and religious scholars, including Cardinals in Christianity, Rabbis in Judaism, and Islamic clerics at various levels, can have a powerful impact in establishing sustainable and just peace. We are ready, from all angles, to work toward this goal. As representatives of the Islamic Seminary, we support and defend dignity, justice, and reason, and we are prepared to deepen our engagement with esteemed scholars and religious leaders of various faiths.”
Highlighting the importance of human dignity and justice as core principles of Islamic teachings, he stated, “There are two fundamental prohibitions in Islam that we emphasize: first, no human being should be subjected to oppression; and second, one must not accept oppression either. I have observed many shared values between Islam and Christianity in this regard. When I was at the Islamic Centre in Vienna, I studied the doctrinal texts of the Catholic Church. Based on my long-standing relationship with Christian figures, I have spent many years researching and engaging in interfaith dialogue.”
Ayatollah Ramazani emphasized the necessity of respecting religions and stated, “We must honor all religions and their founders, and we must refrain from insulting what is sacred to humanity. The act of desecration is one of the major harms and afflictions that human society is facing today. The concept of freedom of expression must be distinguished from insulting the sacred. One cannot, under the pretext of free speech, offend what is revered by people. During my tenure at the Islamic Centre of Hamburg, I wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, thanking him for his firm stance against the desecration of religious sanctities. At the time, he had said in a speech, ‘If someone insults my mother, I will respond to him.”
Referring to the status of religious minorities in Iran, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Although the majority of Iran’s population is Muslim, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran guarantees full citizenship rights for followers of religious minorities. Also, these communities have representatives in Iran’s Parliament. Religious minorities in Iran freely observe their religious ceremonies and enjoy excellent relations with the Muslim population and state officials.”
Highlighting Iran’s significant scientific progress, he noted, “Forty-six years ago, Iran ranked 57th in global science and research. Today, it ranks 17th. There are over three million university students and 100,000 faculty members in Iran’s universities. In some scientific fields, Iran ranks among the top five countries in the world. In terms of religious scholarship, the largest Shiite seminary in the world is located in the city of Qom, offering nearly 400 academic and interdisciplinary programs. The University of Religions and Denominations is also based in Qom, and numerous Christian texts have been translated into Persian in Iran.”
Further in the meeting, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Côte d’Ivoire and the Vatican’s representative in the country stated, “I was among the Cardinals who participated in the election of the Pope. That occasion gave us the opportunity to meet with Cardinals from different countries. In our meeting, we emphasized that whoever would be chosen as Pope should follow the path of Pope Francis in respecting others. In recent years, Popes have moved increasingly toward dialogue, not only with Christians but also with members of other faiths.”
He added, “Pope Francis has taken several initiatives to promote interfaith solidarity and fraternity. He even authored extensive letters on brotherhood among various religions and sects. Pope Francis led the Church toward interreligious dialogue and helped remove existing barriers. In Côte d’Ivoire, we are striving to build good relations and interactions with Muslims. This is crucial for peaceful coexistence in the world. We must value not only human dignity but also a person’s faith and beliefs.”
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