Pope Francis to attend Muslim Council of Elders in UAE

Chiqui Guyjoco Saturday, May 28, 2016

Pope Francis will be attending the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Muslim Council of Elders with the aim of improving inter-faith relations between the Christians and Muslims.

Pope Francis talks with Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb (L), Egyptian Imam of al-Azhar Mosque at the Vatican, May 23, 2016. | Reuters/Osservatore Romano Handout

According to The National, members of the Islamic Council have decided to invite the Roman Catholic pontiff when they conduct their next round of dialogue as a way to promote a better relationship between the world's two influential religions. The date for the next council has yet to be announced while they're already looking at holding it either in Cairo or at the Vatican.

"Now they have the desire to correct the image of Islam and Muslims in the Christian society," chairman of the UAE council, Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi told The National. "They started feeling they have a responsibility to work with us on a mutual project to achieve the desired goals."

The Islamic council have already met for their second round of talks on the East and West dialogue mission held in Paris city council palace and attended by municipality officials and the Vatican's lay Community of Saint'Egidio who suggested the idea of inviting the pope.

On Monday, May 23, Pope Francis welcomed the highest authority in Islam, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, in a historic visit to the Vatican. Tayeb became the first Al Azhar imam to visit the Vatican and the visit was also significant as it signaled the thawed relationship between the two faiths since Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, delivered a speech that offended many Muslims worldwide in 2006.

Al Nuaimi noted that the pope received Tayeb alone in his office which the pope does not usually do. He also noted the significant gesture made by Francis as he awarded the Grand Imam of Al Azhar a medal of peace.

"Look at this from a Christian's point of view. What does it mean when the pope awards an Al Azhar imam with this medal of peace?" Al Nuaimi asked.

The Islamic council also visited the Paris cafÃ© targeted by terrorists in their November attacks. Tayeb offered a prayer for the victims and laid a flower bouquet with a written note denouncing the bloodshed and calling on everyone to protect the life of all human beings.