Vatican City – October 2026
The visit of H.E. Ahmed bin Mohamed Aljarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace (GCTP), to the Vatican resulted in an agreement to coordinate efforts toward signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and the relevant Vatican authorities, as well as to work together on organizing joint initiatives aimed at promoting the values of tolerance, peace, love and equality, strengthening interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and contributing to the advancement of global peace.
The agreement came during a series of high-level official meetings held by H.E. Aljarwan and the accompanying delegation at the Vatican. These included a meeting with Msgr. Indunil J. Kodithuwakku K., Secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue; His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the Pontifical Maronite College; and H.E. Archbishop Michel Jalakh, Secretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.
The visit forms part of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace’s ongoing efforts to build bridges of communication with major religious and intellectual institutions around the world. It also reflects the firmly established approach of the United Arab Emirates in promoting the values of human fraternity, which has made the UAE a global model of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among different cultures and beliefs.
A Gateway to an International Partnership for Peace
H.E. Ahmed bin Mohamed Aljarwan stressed the importance of cooperation between the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace and the Vatican in promoting the values of tolerance, peace, love, equality and dialogue among civilizations, noting that such cooperation would open the door to broader collaboration and joint action.
H.E. Aljarwan said:
“Cooperation with the Vatican, given its global spiritual and humanitarian significance, represents a gateway to greater cooperation and joint action in support of tolerance and peace around the world.
We have agreed to coordinate efforts toward signing a Memorandum of Understanding that will move this partnership from dialogue to sustainable institutional cooperation.”
Interreligious Dialogue: A Path Toward Global Peace
During the first meeting, H.E. Aljarwan and the accompanying delegation met with Msgr. Indunil J. Kodithuwakku K., Secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, one of the Holy See’s leading institutions dedicated to promoting dialogue and mutual understanding with followers of different religions around the world.
The meeting explored prospects for cooperation in launching joint initiatives and programmes that contribute to strengthening a culture of dialogue, combating hate speech and extremism, and promoting mutual respect among peoples.
H.E. Aljarwan stressed that interreligious dialogue has become an urgent humanitarian necessity in a world facing growing challenges, saying:
“Dialogue among religions and civilizations is the shortest path toward sustainable global peace. When religious leaders come together around shared values, they send a powerful message to the world that what unites humanity is far greater than what divides it.”
Meeting with Patriarch Cardinal Al-Rahi
During the second meeting, H.E. Ahmed bin Mohamed Aljarwan and the accompanying delegation visited the Pontifical Maronite College, where they met with His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
The meeting reviewed the important role played by spiritual leaders in spreading the message of peace and love and in strengthening the values of coexistence and unity within societies. The two sides also discussed opportunities for cooperation in supporting humanitarian initiatives aimed at consolidating a culture of tolerance.
H.E. Aljarwan expressed his appreciation for Patriarch Al-Rahi’s positions in support of dialogue, openness and peaceful coexistence, saying:
“The voice of wisdom and moderation represented by the spiritual leadership of our region is needed today more than ever. Together, we must build a future in which peace prevails and the values of justice, equality and human dignity guide our societies.”
Meeting with the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
H.E. Aljarwan concluded his meetings with H.E. Archbishop Michel Jalakh, Secretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in promoting a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, as well as the historic role of the Eastern Churches in fostering coexistence among followers of different religions in the Middle East, as an integral part of the region’s cultural and human fabric.
H.E. Aljarwan emphasized that the Council views the region’s religious and cultural diversity as a source of richness and strength, saying:
“Our region has, throughout the centuries, been the cradle of the divine messages and a meeting point of civilizations. It is our collective responsibility to preserve this great human heritage. We bring to the Vatican the humanitarian message of the United Arab Emirates, whose wise leadership believes that tolerance is a way of life, not merely a slogan.”
