-
May 5, 2024Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2024 - Muslim Council of Elders Pavilion - Seminar titled “The United Arab Emirates as a Model of Diversity and Coexistence”, Saturday 4 May.
Watch the video
Speakers:
1. Msgr. Paolo Martinelli - Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia
2. Dr. Zikrur Rahman - Founding Director of the India Arab Cultural Centre
3. Dr. Mahmoud Najah - Imam at the Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque in the Abrahamic Family House
4. Surender Singh Kandhari - Chairman of Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple in Dubai
Msgr. Paolo Martinelli - Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia (extract):
“This simple meeting for me is the best example, very simple, that we can work together, we are called to work together and to share our lives.
And also, I would like to say that I arrived here less than two years ago. I was appointed by Pope Francis as a Bishop for the Catholics here, in this part of the world. And when I received the call [saying] I was appointed, I was so amazed because I [had] never [been] here before, but immediately in my mind, it was clear that to be appointed here, I wanted to be here in the place where the document on Human Fraternity was signed, this was for me very clear. Therefore, I was so happy when I received this appointment because for me, it was to be here in the place where this prophetic document was signed.
And also, when I arrived here, I have to say, immediately I felt the possibility to meet not only our Catholic people but also people from different cultures and languages, rites, religions.
It's really what the document has written we can experience here. It's not just words on the document. Here we can experience, in this country, the possibility [of] coexistence, tolerance, and to promote benevolence, mutual coexistence, and also the possibility to learn from one another, to accept one another, to meet one another.
And I think really, we can see the wisdom of the rulers of this country, the father of this country.
And also, for me, it is very important to see the possibility of the Abrahamic family house as a reality which is able to welcome the document signed here. So, I think it is a possibility to experience that people from different religions can be together, respecting one another, not to overcome differences, no, the way is not to overcome differences but to welcome one another, to know better one another, and to respect one another.
So I think the Abrahamic family house is really a fruit of a great wisdom I think, because […] it's a great experience to be there and to see three different places of worship for people from different religions and I can see, so for instance for a Catholic who wants to join the mass in the church dedicated to Saint Francis, I think he also should know the other places of worship, so I cannot think about my faith without thinking also to people from other faiths.
This is a very wise project, to be together, in the same reality to find the differences. I think also it's a great image for an educational path, so I know, I still have many contacts in Italy with some universities and journalists, they asked about this experience of the Abrahamic family house : how is it possible to spread this spirit, this wisdom we are able to experience? We are different but the differences are not an objection to the unity we can have, we can experience. We can experience to be a unique reality in this society, we are really called to be brothers and sisters respecting the differences we have. I think it is really a prophetic document and a prophetic place.”
See the photos