Secretary-General of MCE Meets Archbishop of Constantinople

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, met with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, in Istanbul, Turkey.

 The discussion focused on enhancing mutual cooperation in promoting and fostering the values of tolerance, coexistence, and interfaith dialogue, as well as its role in combating hate speech and addressing global challenges.

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam praised the role of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in promoting interfaith dialogue, particularly concerning climate change and combating hate. He expressed his appreciation for His Holiness's efforts in spreading a culture of understanding and mutual respect, stating that this meeting reflects the spirit of cooperation and understanding between religions and cultures that the Muslim Council of Elders aims to establish. He reaffirmed the Council's commitment to working with all active parties worldwide to promote peace and counter all forms of extremism, hatred, racism, intolerance, and discrimination.

Judge Abdelsalam also highlighted that true friendship, especially among those dedicated to humanity and striving for genuine peace, can overcome challenges and obstacles. He referenced the global model of fraternal relations between His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Justin Welby. Among the fruits of these efforts are the Human Fraternity Document in Abu Dhabi, considered the most significant in modern human history, the Emerging Peacemakers Forum, the "Call of Conscience: Abu Dhabi Joint Statement on Climate," the Al-Azhar Global Citizenship Declaration, the Bahrain Dialogue Forum between East and West, and other important initiatives.

For his part, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I expressed his appreciation for the efforts of His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb in solidifying the values of coexistence and human fraternity, building bridges of communication and understanding between religions, and the active role played by the Muslim Council of Elders on various levels to reinforce the culture of diversity, pluralism, and acceptance and respect for others. He emphasized the importance of joint efforts to deepen religious and cultural dialogue and expressed his eagerness to enhance cooperation with the Council to address the common challenges that hinder peace and stability in societies.

During the meeting, His All-Holiness congratulated the Council on its tenth anniversary, acknowledging the significant steps it has taken in its first decade to promote the spirit of tolerance, love, and fraternity among all people, regardless of their differences and diversity. He expressed his hopes for continued success and further achievements in collaboration with the Council in the coming period.