CBCP, Egypt call for peace, end to Middle East conflict

The Embassy of Egypt and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called for peace and an end to the Middle East conflict.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Egyptian Minister of Religious Endowment H.E. Professor Osama Al-Azhari said there were no winners in wars, which brought harm and suffering to everyone.

“As you can see, the whole world is suffering from the ramifications of this war. It is reflecting badly on the economic situation, whether in Egypt or across the Middle East, and I do also know that it is causing much harm and suffering to Philippine nationals,” he said through a translator.

As an official for Egypt, he called for a peaceful resolution through mutual understanding and dialogue.

“This is an honest call from the deep, subtle legacy of Egypt and the Philippines to end the war. To all parties of the war, to bring an end, immediate end to it,” he said.

“It is bringing harm and suffering to the whole humanity. For them all, they are called upon to be back to the values of peace,” he added.

CBCP President and Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Gilbert Garcera also echoed Al-Azhari’s calls for peace and understanding.

“We pray for peace, not [for] just what is happening in the Middle East, but the whole world… And we are one with the Holy Father in his call for peace in the whole world, peace that we start from the heart,” he said.

Interfaith exchanges

Al-Azhari’s visit to the Philippines and CBCP led to an interfaith exchange to promote a more peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Catholics.

Through said partnership, Imams from Egypt will head to the Philippines to be trained on the values of peaceful coexistence, loyalty, and patriotism with the Catholic Church.

In the same manner, 10 bishops from the Philippines will be sent to Egypt to visit the root of the Holy Family and receive lectures in peaceful coexistence with the Islamic community in Egypt.

“I'm looking forward to the great horizons of cooperation lying ahead between the two countries. There are great horizons about those chances for cooperation between the two countries,” he shared.

“We are honest when it comes to our great desire to provide the Philippines with whatever support in various fields we can offer that will keep this country safe, stable, and prosperous,” he added. — BAP, GMA News