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Islamic Affairs Ministry Delegation Meets with Pope of Vatican

A Saudi delegation headed by Adviser to Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullah Bin Fahd Al-Luhaidan meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome Thursday. – SPA
A Saudi delegation headed by Adviser to Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullah Bin Fahd Al-Luhaidan meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome Thursday. – SPA
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Islamic Affairs Ministry Delegation Meets with Pope of Vatican

A Saudi delegation headed by Adviser to Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullah Bin Fahd Al-Luhaidan meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome Thursday. – SPA
A Saudi delegation headed by Adviser to Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullah Bin Fahd Al-Luhaidan meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome Thursday. – SPA

A Saudi official delegation headed by Advisor to Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Dr. Abdullah bin Fahd al-Luhaidan has met with Pope Francis of Vatican.

The delegation stressed that this visit was to express the Kingdom's appreciation to the Pope for his sincere positions and statements calling for peace and coexistence, rejection of linking between religions and terrorism and affirming sincere and deep aspiration to promote a culture of dialogue and peaceful coexistence among all followers of religions and cultures.

The delegation recalled the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to the Vatican in 2007, his meeting with the Pope Benedict XVI and the outcome of this meeting – it underpinned the importance of dialogue among religions and civilizations, stressing that all nations share common values.

This is a fixed policy adopted by Saudi Arabia and the Vatican, and it was approved in a global conference for scholars from all over the Islamic world in Mecca in 2008.

The meeting between the Saudi delegation and Pope Francis signaled that they both have a religious weight, and that there are more than 1.5 billion of Muslims around the world who pray facing the Qibla (Mecca) five times a day, and more than 15 million who head to the kingdom to perform pilgrimage.

They also enjoy an international political weight that is the result of their moderate policies and their respect to contracts and conventions in which they are signatories of.

Thanks to Saudi efforts, King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue was established to promote dialogue among religions and civilizations. Spain, Austria and the Vatican took part in it.

The Saudi support to international peace continued through the establishment of King Salman Centre for International Peace in Malaysia and the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology – named “Etidal” or “moderation” – in Riyadh.

Of course, in addition to the meetings and tours carried out by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques because of his deep faith in the importance of communication to achieve peace.

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Saudi Arabia Pursues Efforts to Quell Sudan Crisis

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji at the Second Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan (SPA)
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji at the Second Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Pursues Efforts to Quell Sudan Crisis

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji at the Second Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan (SPA)
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji at the Second Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan (SPA)

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji reaffirmed the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis. He expressed Saudi Arabia’s openness to international initiatives aimed at bringing peace to Sudan.
At the Second Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan, held in Djibouti, Al-Khuraiji discussed the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis.
He mentioned that Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the United States, facilitated talks between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, leading to the Jeddah Declaration on May 11, 2023, which aimed to protect civilians.
Al-Khuraiji also noted the continuation of talks with the involvement of the African Union and IGAD, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s support for African-led solutions.
He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to restoring stability in Sudan and urged all parties to act with wisdom, show restraint, and support positive initiatives.
Al-Khuraiji also met with EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, on the sidelines of the consultative meeting.
In separate meetings, he also met with the UN Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, and US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello.
During these meetings, they reviewed the latest developments in Sudan, explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, and discussed topics of mutual interest.
The Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum) expressed support for international and regional meetings, hoping they would bring positive results to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people.
They urged the need that discussions focus on ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need, protecting civilians, and achieving an immediate ceasefire.
Taqaddum highlighted the importance of international legal frameworks for civilian protection and safe passageways during the conflict.
They called on international and regional partners to quickly bring both sides back to negotiations, build on the Jeddah agreements, and secure a binding ceasefire with effective monitoring.
Taqaddum also stressed the need for a unified negotiation platform to achieve peace.