TANZANIA: Abu Dhabi Declaration Very Useful for Africa, Says Bishop Kilaini

ABU DHABI, FEBRUARY 8, 2019 (CISA)-Bishop Method Kilaini, the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Bukoba, has urged Africans to develop peaceful society, learning from Pope Francis visit to United Arab Emirates.

The Pope visited Abu Dhabi to meet with religious leaders at the Global Inter-Religious Meeting on Human Fraternity, a conference held February3 and 4, aimed at combating religious extremism.

“The great conference held in Abu Dhabi, attended by the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, was organized by the Muslims. It shows that the faithful of Islam wish to build peace and harmony in the world. It is a message that first of all reaches the Muslim world, in Asia but also in Africa,” said Bishop Kilaini.

He stressed that the conference and the declaration signed by the Pope and Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyib will be very useful in the context of Africa, where Islamic fundamentalist groups are growing.

“This happens because many Islamic fundamentalists arrive in Africa, starting from the Middle East, and bring a message of hatred, discrimination and extremism to the local Muslims.”

“What happened in the United Arab Emirates brings a powerful message of peace, harmony, fraternity and says that Muslims want peace in the world, too. The message of fraternity will certainly reach Tanzania and various parts of Africa, helping people to develop a peaceful society,” he said.

Bishop Kilaini was among religious leaders present at the Global Inter-Religious Meeting in Abu Dhabi.