Vatican envoy attends 17th Rabi Al-Shahada International Cultural Festival in Holy Karbala

The Vatican envoy, who attended the 17th Rabi Al-Shahada International Cultural Festival organized in Holy Karbala by Imam Hussein Holy Shrine, emphasized that the world today is going through a state of division and fragmentation, and we must strive for unity to offer love and mercy to the world through brotherhood.

The head of the Vatican Library in Rome, Monsignor Angelo Vincenzo De Donatis, said, “This is the first time I have visited Iraq and participated in this festival, which is very important because it has given me a very beautiful opportunity and a moving experience.”

De Donatis added, “According to the words spoken at the opening ceremony of the festival, they want to go to the source of faith to also grow their spiritual experiences, and this source of faith is important for all of us. It is very important for us to hear such words to know what our common human experience is.”

He emphasized that “memory and its preservation are very important work because not preserving memory and passing it on to future generations will prevent us from retaining faith, which is the foundation of the common source of faith among religions.”

He continued: “Although we have talked about the past and preserved memory, the present is very important because it gives us the opportunity to know that the world is very fragmented and suffering today, and we must unite to offer love and mercy to the world.”

The Vatican representative also mentioned the historic meetings Pope Francis had made with Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Imam of Al-Azhar, in Egypt and Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani in Holy Najaf, Iraq.