Fez – The Secretary of State at the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, highlighted King Mohammed VI’s efforts contributing to promoting tolerance and interreligious dialogue.
Speaking at a reception on Wednesday evening, the Cardinal highlighted “the cordial and sincere relations” between Morocco and the Vatican.
The reception comes following his appontment as an honorary member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco.
”The Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco reflects the intellectual, scientific and cultural progress of the Kingdom, while making known the components of national identity, aimed at promoting a fruitful dialogue between cultures and civilizations,” he said.
The academy establishes civilizational bridges and strengthens mutual cultural understanding, the Cardinal added.
He also shed light on Morocco’s tolerance approach, expressing his “great satisfaction and recognition of having been chosen as an honorary member within the Moroccan academy”.
For his part, the Moroccan Ambassador to the Holy See, Rajae Naji Mekkaoui, stressed that “this royal appointment reaffirms the will and commitment of the sovereign to consolidate the centuries-old relations between Morocco and the Vatican and to work in favoring the promotion of universal values of peace and tolerance, the protection of the family, migration, climate change, sustainable development, the fight against poverty and the strengthening of multilateralism.”
The academy represents the continuation of centuries-old traditions in Morocco, initiated by the first Moroccan university Al Quarawiyine, which attracted students and professors of all religions from all over the world, she said.
King Mohammed VI has frequently emphasized Morocco’s commitment to promote religious moderation and coexistence.
“While Islam is the official religion of the country, the Moroccan Constitution stipulates that the country guarantees the free practice of religion to all,” said King Mohammed VI in a speech at the Parliamentary Conference on “Interfaith Dialogue: Collaborating for Our Common Future” held in June last year.
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