APCOM

"We were welcomed warmly and we had a very frank confrontation" said Milano's Al-Wahid Imam Mosque Yahya Pallavicini commenting on the two day meeting in the Vatican between a delegation of the Holy See and of the Muslim religious community. The most important outcome of the meeting is the creation of a permanent forum aimed at increasing dialogue between the two religions.

"Each year members of the Forum will meet, the first seminar will be next November in Rome, then the following year it could take place in an Islamic country, perhaps Amman in Jordan" explained Imam Pallavicini - who is also vicepresident of the Coreis (Islamic religious communities in Italy) - during a conference in Milano focusing on the theme "The holy and the profane". Among participants also Milano's Chief Rabbi, Alfonso Arbib, and Coreis president Abd al-Wahid Pallavicini.

"The Muslim delegation that will be received by Pope Ratzinger in the papal audience next November will be made up by 24 international Muslim scholars. Among these there will also be women" announced Imam Pallavicini.

"The core issues of the next forum will be: Love for God, love for fellowmen and fellow women, human dignity and mutual respect" he then concluded.