Latest news with #interfaithdialogue
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
British Politicians Call Upon Pope Leo XIV To Stand Up For Jimmy Lai
Vatican, June 21, 2025. Pope Leo XIV meets with political leaders during the Jubilee of Governments ... More at the Apostolic Palace on June 21, 2025, in Vatican City, Vatican. Greeting the members of the delegations coming from 68 different countries, Pope Leo said politics has rightly been defined as 'the highest form of charity.' (Photo credit: Elisabetta Trevisan - Vatican Media via) On June 21, 2025, Alex Sobel MP, Member of the U.K. Parliament, delivered a letter to Pope Leo XIV after a special audience for members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in the Hall of Benediction, the Vatican, calling upon him to stand up for Jimmy Lai. Jimmy Lai, a British citizen aged 77, and a devout and practicing Catholic, has been imprisoned by Hong Kong authorities since December 2020. The audience followed the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue: Strengthening trust and embracing hope for our common future. The conference, jointly organized by the IPU and the Parliament of Italy, brought together hundreds of MPs, including Speakers, as well as religious leaders, UN officials, civil society representatives, and international experts from close to 100 countries, responding to the motto of the Jubilee Year to be 'pilgrims of hope' amid a climate of growing conflict, polarization and the weaponization of religion. During the audience, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of human rights for everyone: 'The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, approved and proclaimed by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, is now part of humanity's cultural heritage. That text, which is always relevant, can contribute greatly to placing the human person, in his or her inviolable integrity, at the foundation of the quest for truth, thus restoring dignity to those who do not feel respected in their inmost being and in the dictates of their conscience.' After the audience, Pope Leo XIV met many of the attendees. Alex Sobel MP was among those able to meet the Pope and delivered a letter signed by several Parliamentarians from the U.K., raising the dire situation of Jimmy Lai. Among the signatories of the letters were two Politicians sanctioned by China for their advocacy on the situation of human rights in China and Hong Kong - Lord Alton of Liverpool and Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws LT KC, and the last Governor of Hong Kong - the Rt Hon. the Lord Patten of Barnes KG CH. As the letter stressed, Jimmy Lai, 'Despite being vilified in the Hong Kong media and relentlessly pursued by hostile authorities with vexatious charges, he is guilty as proven on one simple charge: speaking up for democracy and human rights for all and speaking against Chinese Communist Party (CCP) oppression and their suppression of human rights - the values which St John Paul II fought for in Poland during the communist tyranny there.' Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in solitary confinement for over 1,600 days now and faces life imprisonment for simply standing by his principles. Given his age and the condition of his health, he may not live for many more years. In prison, those few remaining years will mean pain and suffering. In addition to being placed in solitary confinement (despite posing no threat to anyone), an act that of itself heightens the risk to his life, Jimmy Lai, a man of deep Catholic faith, has been frequently denied Holy Communion and has not been permitted to attend Mass services held in the prison. There is no reasonable justification for this denial, and it amounts to inhuman and degrading treatment. The letter calls upon Pope Leo XIV to 'raise the case of Jimmy Lai with the Chinese authorities and to seek spiritual assistance for him. He should be allowed to see a priest, to receive Holy Communion, and to attend Mass without any further obstruction.' British Parliamentarians further asked for Pope Leo XIV to meet with Jimmy's son, Sebastien Lai, to give him a blessing and the encouragement to continue his fight for the freedom of his father. Pope Leo XIV is yet to respond to the letter and the calls for restoring the human dignity that Jimmy Lai is deprived of every single day, with the inhumane treatment in prison - the human dignity that Pope Leo XIV has been raising in the recent audience. In the meantime, Jimmy Lai continues to be imprisoned, mostly in isolation, while awaiting the outcome of a long-delayed trial for sedition and conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed controversial National Security Law.
Arab News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi, Italian officials discuss parliamentary ties
RIYADH: The speaker of Saudi Arabia's Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh, met with Saudi-Italian Parliamentary Friendship Committee Chairman Marco Osnato and other Italian MPs during the second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Rome, Italy, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. Osnato welcomed Al-Asheikh and highlighted the strong cooperation and excellent relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy at various levels, as well as praising the Kingdom's 'constructive role in promoting international peace and stability while avoiding conflicts,' the SPA reported. The Shoura Council speaker 'hailed the fraternal ties and emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations to serve the shared interests of both countries and their peoples.' During the meeting, the two officials reviewed existing bilateral relations and 'explored ways to enhance and advance them across various sectors.' At the three-day conference, the president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, emphasized the vital role of parliaments and the conference's significance in building bridges and promoting mutual understanding. Parliamentarians engaged in panel discussions focused on 'fostering mutual understanding, combating hate speech, and promoting a shared future among people worldwide,' the SPA stated.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Pro-Israel rabbi and Trump-linked pastor visit Syria, say peace is possible
Peace between Syria and Israel is "very possible," a Trump-linked evangelical Christian pastor said after he and a pro-Israel American rabbi held talks this week with Syria's Islamist leader Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace in Damascus. Rev. Johnnie Moore, a White House adviser during President Donald Trump's first term, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, from the Jewish human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Center, have promoted interfaith dialogue in Arab states for years. The two men met Sharaa late on Monday during a visit to Syria that they said was not aimed at discussing potential ties with Israel, though the topic came up. "I think peace is very possible, if not probable, but the first priority has to be Syria focusing on Syria," Moore told Reuters in a phone interview late on Tuesday, after they had concluded their trip. Sharaa "articulated issues of concern he has, but also the potential for a very positive future," Moore added. A Syrian presidency media official did not respond to a request for comment.
LBCI
23-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Former PM Mikati congratulates Pope Leo XIV on inauguration, highlights Lebanon's ties to Vatican
Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati sent a message of congratulations to Pope Leo XIV following his inauguration as head of the Catholic Church, expressing admiration and support on behalf of the Lebanese people. In the message, Mikati praised the Pope's election as a moment of "hope and renewal" for millions around the world, noting that it holds special meaning for Lebanon's Christian community, which, he said, views the Vatican as a guiding light of faith and spiritual leadership. Mikati emphasized Lebanon's longstanding relationship with the Holy See, describing the country as a land of deep spiritual heritage and religious diversity. He expressed hope that the new papacy would be marked by wisdom and compassion, particularly in fostering interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims. He also commended the Pope's commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity, saying it serves as an inspiration to all who seek harmony and coexistence. Mikati concluded his message by assuring the Pope of Lebanon's continued prayers and support for his mission and leadership.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pope Leo confirms stance on gay marriage and abortion
Pope Leo XIV laid out his stance on gay marriage and abortion in his inaugural address to the Vatican diplomatic corps. In the Friday address, he affirmed the church's definition of family as being founded on the 'stable union between a man and a woman'. He also said both unborn children and the elderly had inherent dignity as creations of God. The pronouncements offer a clear articulation of core Catholic teachings on marriage and abortion. The new Pope also addressed the importance of international relations and hailed interfaith dialogue as a crucial tool in the pursuit of world peace. This meeting with the diplomatic corps is a standard protocol following a papal conclave. It allows a newly elected pontiff to formally greet representatives from nearly 200 countries with which the Holy See maintains diplomatic ties. The Holy See's status as a sovereign state, recognised under international law, also grants it observer status at the United Nations. The meeting preceded Pope Leo's official installation Mass which is scheduled for Sunday, May 18. Leo, a member of the Augustinian religious order, has emphasised peace as a priority of his pontificate, from the first words he uttered on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, 'Peace be with you all'. Pope's stance on women in the Church Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis ' pontificate by having women serve on the Vatican board that vets nominations for bishops. But he also has said that women cannot be ordained as priests. Despite having worked for years in Peru, where women often lead church communities, he also seems noncommittal on whether women could ever serve in any ministerial capacity. Nevertheless, women who have worked closely with him in recent years have praised his leadership style, ability to listen and respect for their opinions. Maria Lia Zervino was among the three women Francis appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops in 2022 to review possible appointments. Ms Zervino rejoiced when Leo was elected pope, saying the respect he showed for her and other women on the board and their opinions gave them faith in him as a leader. 'I'm convinced that he doesn't need to learn how to work (with women), how to let them speak, to listen to them, to have them participate in decisions, because that's what he does anyway,' said Ms Zervino.
