Visit of Bishop Camillo Ballin to the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue
Visit of Bishop Camillo Ballin
Bishop Camillo Ballin, from Bahrain, visited the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) on Monday, 17 October and met Dr. Ibrahim Saleh Al-Naimi, Chairman of the DICID. Bishop Ballin is the Vicar Apostolic for the northern Arabian Peninsula (Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia). He was accompanied by the head of the Catholic Church in Doha, the Father Selvaraj Arockiam.
Despite the shortness of his visit to Qatar, Bishop Ballin expressed his pleasure and eagerness to visit DICID, citing its important and effective role in building bridges between people and strengthening ties and deepening the dialogue between religions.
The meeting focused on the Catholic Church’s activities in the Arab countries and its efforts to encourage dialogue and coexistence between different faiths. The group also discussed the Church’s active and constructive participation in past DICID conferences.
Dr. Al-Naimi emphasized DICID’s mission to promote a culture of peace and constructive dialogue between different faiths and their followers; to reject intolerance; and to activate those with religious values to address the common issues and problems of all humanity. The Chairman gave a short presentation of DICID’s activities, in particular the Center’s newly-created specialized library.
Finally, Bishop Ballini introduced the Pontifical Council for Culture, founded by Cardinal Paul Poupard, and its main academic ongoing project: a translation of a dictionary of religions in two volumes which highlights the diversity of faiths and cultures.