Shia-Catholic Dialogue Held in Rome

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A three-day conference titled “Shia-Catholic Dialogue” was held in Rome recently, the website of the University of Religions and Denominations reported.  The conference was held with the presence of Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Taqi Ansaripur, dean of Shia Studies Faculty of The University of Religions and Denominations.  According to Hojat-ol-Islam Ansaripur, the conference was one in a series of conferences held in Britain in 2003, 2005, and 2007.  He said this year’s event featured discussions on prayer in Islam and Catholicism. “I presented a paper on prayer in Shia Islam, which was well received by the participating Christian thinkers.”  He added that the papers presented at the conference would be published and the dialogues between the two religions would continue in the future.  Hojat-ol-Islam Ansaripur went on to say that Catholics feel more proximity with Shia Islam among other Islamic schools of thought. “We should take the opportunity and through dialogue present the lofty Shia teachings to the world.”/129