Vatican City, 14 July 2016 – The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue announces that Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, secretary of the dicastery, along with Archbishop Bruno Musarò, apostolic nuncio in Egypt, met yesterday with Dr. Kamal Abd al-Salam, member of the Al-Azhar Centre for Dialogue, representing Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk and Professor Mohey El-Din Afifi Ahmed, secretary of the Al-Azhar Islamic Research Complex. They were all subsequently received by the Wakil of Al-Azhar, Dr. Abbas Shouman, with whom a fruitful meeting was held.

After conveying the Pope's greetings and good wishes, the secretary discussed the terms and methods of a further meeting to mark the resumption of dialogue between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and Al-Azhar University.

The meeting, which took place in an atmosphere of great cordiality, brought to light the importance of sincere and fruitful dialogue between the dicastery and the important Sunnite institution, and of collaboration that has at heart the good of humanity and which strengthens the bonds between Christians and Muslims.