Vatican official visits Al-Azhar University in Cairo

(Vatican Radio) The Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, on Tuesday made a visit to the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, considered Sunni Islam’s most prestigious institution of learning. He was accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, Archbishop Bruno Musarò.

The delegation was received by Dr. Abbas Shuman, who is the Deputy of Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyib, the Grand Imam.

A statement released by the PCID said the meeting took place in “an atmosphere of great cordiality”, and the parties discussed the need for a resumption of dialogue between the two institutions, “as called for by Pope Francis and several persons of good will.”

The statement added the parties “agreed on the importance of continuing and strengthening this dialogue for the good of humanity.”

Bishop Ayuso also delivered a letter from Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in which he expressed his readiness to receive the Grand Imam and to accompany him officially in an audience with Pope Francis.

The statement also said the PCID thanked those who “helped with the success” of the visit to Al-Azhar University, and added it “hopes that it will lead to a fruitful collaboration.”

The University suspended talks with the Vatican in 2011.