The envoy of the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue, Dr. Khalid Aliwi Al-Ardawi, met Pope Francis at the Vatican and stated that the Pope pays significant attention to Iraq and its people.
Al-Ardawi stated that the meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City during the weekly audience, performing as the representative of the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue delegation, carries significant implications, including the attention the Christian religious institution pays to Iraq and its people. He affirmed that the world today looks forward to more dialogue and human cooperation through our shared humanity and mutual interests.
Al-Ardawi expressed his thanks and gratitude to everyone who made continuous efforts to ensure the success of this meeting, particularly the Head of the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue, its members, and the staff at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in the Vatican.
The Head of the Forum, Ali Al-Talqani, stated that the visit comes at a time when the forum looks forward to enhancing religious diplomacy in addressing the issues and challenges facing interfaith dialogue. This is particularly important given that Iraq's Christian community, whose people are indigenous to the country, has suffered violations, sometimes in the name of religion and at other times for political reasons, leaving the community in a state of severe isolation and fear. This contradicts the righteous values advocated by divine religions.
He added that "dialogue and communication enable people to know one another, as no one can live in isolation from the outside world. It is an opportunity for coexistence in light of the various humanitarian challenges the world is witnessing."
He clarified that "the meetings that took place through the previous visits of Vatican institutions to the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue in Iraq, and the forum delegation's visit to the Vatican and meeting with those institutions, reflect the Forum's vision of promoting dialogue and fostering coexistence."
Additionally, the envoy of the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue participated in a discussion titled "Our Roots in Human Fraternity," which was held with the participation of religious organizations and institutions in cooperation with the forum in the city of Padua, northeastern Italy. This aimed to promote dialogue and realize the forum’s aspirations to open horizons of cooperation with official and unofficial institutions to demonstrate the true, positive image of Iraq in international forums.
Furthermore, the envoy of the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue, Dr. Khalid Al-Ardawi, met with several Iraqi diplomatic figures in Italy and discussed political developments on the international stage. They also discussed the role of research centers, civil society organizations, and diplomatic relations in bridging gaps and highlighting positive turning points in which Iraq could play a role.
He also discussed enhancing interfaith dialogue, emphasizing the necessity of developing the relationship between the forum and research and academic institutions, and providing the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue with all the support it needs to engage with various Vatican institutions, as well as hosting relevant delegations, figures, and organizations.
Al-Ardawi also visited the Catholic Institute for Oriental Studies in Italy, where the forum's envoy met with the Dean of the Catholic Institute, Mr. Dawood Nazar, and the Head of the Christian Oriental Studies Department, Professor Basha. They discussed avenues for cooperation with the Forum at all levels and ways to strengthen interfaith dialogue.