FILE- Pope Francis of the Vatican extends his greetings to Grand Imam of Al Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders Ahmad el Tayeb in April 2017 in Cairo- press photoCAIRO - 24 April 2020: Pope Francis of the Vatican extended his greetings to Grand Imam of Al Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders Ahmad el Tayeb on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when the Muslims worldwide fast from dusk to dawn nationwide, said the Grand Imam in a statement on Friday.In a phone call with the grand Imam, Pope Francis also wished the whole world more stability and security, praying to God to make the universe free from wars and diseases, Al-Tayeb added.Both religious figures discussed the ways of strengthening global solidarity against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to this, they tackled the means of activating thethat was signed between the Grand Imam and Pope Francis in February 2019.In April 2017, Pope Francis paid Egypt a two-day visit and he gave a speech at al-Azhar institution. The visit had an aim to foster reconciliation with the Muslim world following recent attacks against the Middle East’s biggest Christian community.It marks Pope Francis as the first pontiff to visit Al-Azhar institution since Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Source: Egypt Today April 24, 2020 15:00 UTC