Islamic diplomats to attend course on Holy See’s international policy

Vatican City, May 4, 2007 / 11:13 am

Diplomats from some twenty Islamic countries of the Mediterranean and Middle East will participate in the seminar “The Catholic Church and international policy” May 7-27, which is being organized by the Gregorian University Foundation and the Jacques Maritain International Institute in order to contribute to the formation of mediators for relations between states.

The seminar will take place in Rome May 7-21 and in Turin May 21-27.  The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Martino, will inaugurate the course.

“The purpose of the course is to introduce the institutions of the Catholic Church and the international policy of the Holy See to diplomats of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern region, in order to contribute to the formation of important mediators in the relations between states, peoples and cultures, with the desire of fostering a better knowledge between peoples and religions in the difficult context of today’s world,” organizers said.

Diplomats from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Albania, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and other countries are expected to attend. 

Diplomats from the Palestinian Authority, Qatar and Yemen will not be present due to scheduling conflicts, while officials from Oman and Tunisia rejected invitations to attend.