Vatican city: H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser yesterday met Pope Francis as part of a private audience at the Vatican City.
Talks dealt with topics of mutual interest, with a focus on the current refugee crisis; providing quality education in conflict zones and the importance of inter-faith dialogue between the Muslim and Christian faiths to address global issues.
Sheikha Moza expressed gratitude to the pope for his outspoken support and commitment to refugees, noting that he had inspired people across the world through his words and deeds.
Sheikha Moza stressed that his message of unity and hand of friendship to all peoples and faiths are more important now than ever.
Pope Francis expressed appreciation for Sheikha Moza’s work through the Education Above All Foundation, which provides access to education for millions of out-of-school children around the world.
Sheikha Moza cited statistics showing that between 2009 and 2012 there were at least 30 countries that were heavily affected by attacks on schools. The pope said he was aware of the gravity of the situation and stressed that every person in conflict areas should be protected, particularly children and, therefore, schools.
Following the meeting, Sheikha Moza witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Qatar National Library and the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana to digitise and make publicly available invaluable Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, held in the collection of Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
The agreement was signed by H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser at the Emiri Diwan, Member of Board of Trustees, QNL, and candidate for the post of the Unesco Secretary-General; and Mons Cesare Pasini, Director of the Vatican library. The manuscripts will be available through Qatar Digital Library, a world-class, online portal launched in October 2014 to provide worldwide free access to an extensive collection of historical items related to the Middle East.
QNA
