In order to promote international initiatives in the field of spiritual diplomacy, popularize the ideas and decisions of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, promote the deepening of relations and trust between Kazakhstan and the Vatican, as well as develop further constructive cooperation, on October 15, Chairman of the Board of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational dialogue Altay Abibullayev and the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of The Holy See (Vatican) - Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot signed a memorandum of understanding online.
“Ioannes Paulus PP. II's and the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev have established a strong dialogue that unites our brothers and sisters into a single humanity, despite the fact that we may represent different religions, cultures and languages. Therefore, I express my respect also to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency, Mr. Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, who successfully headed the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has done a great job in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue, ”said Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot.
The Memorandum is aimed at supporting the parties to the "Document on Human Brotherhood in favor of Peace and Coexistence", as well as the creation of a Joint Committee for Dialogue on the implementation of projects and events on mutual understanding and reconciliation of cultures, ethnic groups and religions, mutual support and promotion of the initiatives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions , principles of peacemaking, equality and tolerance.
For reference: The idea of creating a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was one of the first to be supported by representatives of the Catholic Church.
On September 22-25, 2001, at the invitation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, Ioannes Paulus PP. II's historic visit to Kazakhstan took place, which caused a great public and political resonance in the development of interreligious and interfaith relations in the country and in the world community as a whole.
The Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue is the central agency of the Roman Catholic Church for the promotion of interfaith dialogue, aimed at promoting the principles of mutual understanding, respect and cooperation between Catholics and followers of other religions.
