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Welcome at the airport 29 September at 5 PM CET
This message is also available in Arabic.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome to Geneva and the World Council of Churches Your Eminence Professor Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam and Sheikh Al Azhar, as well as Your illustrious companions who are members of the Council of Muslim Elders.
The World Council of Churches, the major international Christian body which brings together and represents about 350 churches, particularly from the Orthodox and Protestant traditions, is very pleased to be able to meet with this similarly international delegation of significant Muslim leaders. We are glad to be able to welcome all of you to our home at the Ecumenical Centre and the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey.
Both we, as the World Council of Churches, and we know also Professor Al-Tayyeb, are committed to reinforcing the import role of religious leaders as people committed to working for peace in our world. This will be the main focus of our discussions over the next two days. The pilgrimage of justice and peace, which is the central thrust of the World Council of Churches’ work and vision at the present time, is a pilgrimage that we believe Christians can invite all people of good will to share in.
We are glad to welcome Professor Al-Tayyeb and his companions to travel with us on the way that leads to just peace.
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
