The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will meet the Grand Imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar, Ahmed al Tayyeb, at the Vatican.
In an unexpected briefing in the Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Fr. Federico Lombardi, the press office director, told journalists present, “An audience between the Pope and the Imam of Al-Azhar is being prepared for Monday,” and noted that the visit’s schedule was still being defined.
Such an encounter between the Pope and the Imam of Al-Azhar, who many Muslims consider to be the highest authority in Sunni Islam, Fr. Lombardi noted, “is a first.”
The Imam of Al-Azhar heads Egypt’s Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Azhar University, which the Vatican spokesman noted, is considered to be “the most authoritative theological-academic institution of Sunni Islam.”
There has been speculation this official visit would take place since February after a Vatican delegation visited Al-Azhar university and expressed the Holy See’s willingness to welcome the Grand Imam for a meeting with Pope Francis.
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On the NET:
English website of Al-Azhar University: http://www.azhar.edu.eg/En/u.htm
