The dean of University of Religions and Denominations visited Seraphicum university in Italy

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – On 9 March 2023, a delegation from the “University of Religions and Denominations” of Qom in Iran visited the Pontifical Faculty of San Bonaventura – Seraphicum.

As the “Seraphicum university website” reported the Iranian delegation was led by Ayatollah Nawab, rector of the university, together with some university professors and representatives of the Iranian embassy to the Holy See. Representing the Seraphicum, the rector fra Raffaele Di Muro, together with fra Tomasz Szymczak, professor of the faculty and general secretary of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and fra Silvestro Bejan, professor and responsible for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Convent of Saints XII Apostles in Rome, welcomed the delegation.

The meeting began with a visit to the faculty, in particular the classrooms and the library.

During the visit, Ayatollah Nawab addressed the students of the faculty with a speech emphasizing the role that St. Francis of Assisi played in putting an end to the war, at the time of the Crusades, and expressed his closeness to Franciscan spirituality.

The Ayatollah valued spirituality and the Franciscan message, wishing students from different parts of the world a good path of preparation to be messengers of peace in their countries of origin.

The visit continued with a meeting between the rector of the Seraphicum, fra Raffaele Di Muro, who illustrated the activities of the faculty, the various study paths and fields of research of the faculty, and the rector of the university of Qom, who in turn, he described the activities of the Qom University of Religions, presenting its courses and areas of interest.

One of the themes that the Ayatollah underlined as being of particular importance to Iranian scholars was precisely the style of Francis of Assisi and, in general, Franciscan spirituality and mysticism.

His speech concluded by illustrating the objective and message of the University of Religions of Qom also manifested by this visit, emphasizing that the truly great obstacles for the encounter between the Islamic and Christian worlds are not differences, but ignorance and fear.

Sheikh Abdul Karim Paz, a professor at the University of Qom and a friend of the Holy Father since they both lived in Buenos Aires, took the floor quoting some passages from the encyclical Fratelli tutti, and highlighted the importance of this meeting and of the journey undertaken by saying: “our presence in Rome is a sign that hands have joined in exchanging peace”. Friar Silvestro Bejan, recognizing the value of the encounter, then underlined that after the hands have “joined”, it is necessary to set out to get to know each other well and walk together towards the common good of every man and for universal fraternity.

Afterwards, the meeting continued with the discussion and exchange of ideas on the various questions about man in relation to spirituality and the various problems that humanity is facing in today’s world.

It was very important for the delegation to listen to the opinion of the Christian teachers on the various questions, and they showed interest in the words of Fra Raffaele who tried to respond starting from the positions of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, in particular of the recent Popes.

To promote a joint journey, Brother Silvestro proposed organizing a conference on mystics from the Islamic and Franciscan world.

The idea was warmly welcomed by the delegation. The meeting ended with Ayatollah Nawab’s official invitation to the friars to visit Iran and the University of Qom and a mutual exchange of gifts.