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Rabat – King Mohammed VI and Pope Francis signed, Saturday at the Throne room of the Rabat Royal Palace, the “Al-Quds Call,” aimed at promoting and enhancing the specific multi-faith character, spiritual dimension and special identity of the holy city.
Here follows the full text of this Call, read out in Arabic by secretary general of the Higher Council of Ulema, Mohamed Yessef, and in Italian by Edgar Pena Parra, substitute at Vatican’s secretariat of State.
“Call by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Holiness Pope Francis concerning Jerusalem / Al-Quds a Holy City and a Meeting Place
On the occasion of the Holy Father’s visit to the Kingdom of Morocco, Pope Francis and King Mohammed VI, recognizing the uniqueness and the sacred character of Jerusalem  (Al-Quds Al-Sharif), and caring deeply about its spiritual significance, as well as its special vocation as a city of Peace, issued this joint Call:
“We believe it is important to preserve the Holy City of Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) as a shared heritage of humankind and to safeguard it, above all for the believers of the three monotheistic religions, as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and as a meeting place where mutual esteem and dialogue are fostered.
To this end, the specific multi-faith character, spiritual dimension and special identity of Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) need to be preserved and enhanced.
We therefore hope that, in the Holy City, the followers of the three monotheistic religions will be guaranteed free access to religious sites, as well as the right to practice their faith there, so that from Jerusalem (Al-Quds Acharif), the believers may address a prayer to God, the Creator of all beings, for a future of peace and brotherhood on earth.”
The ceremony was attended by head of government, Saad Dine El Otmani, the King’s advisors, Omar Azziman, Fouad Ali El Himma and André Azoulay, the minister of the Interior, the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and members of the delegation accompanying the Supreme pontiff.
