A traditional majlis that forms the centrepiece of the cross-cultural touring exhibition ‘The Majlis-Cultures in Dialogue’ recently hosted an interfaith dialogue meeting. 

The United in Dialogue, Interfaith Consultation session, featuring 12 religious groupings, was held at the Palace in Valletta.

Opening the meeting, President Marie-Louise Colerio Preca said the interfaith meeting – held as a consultation session for the Malta Interfaith Harmony Declaration to be signed in February 2019 – provided an opportunity for different faiths to make a statement from the heart of the Mediterranean that “all religions are rooted in respect, peace and love”.

The Imam from the Paola mosque said the biggest challenges facing interfaith dialogue and interfaith friendship originated from misconceptions regarding Islam, as well as among Muslims themselves. He said it was the responsibility of leaders of faith groups to explain the realities and true teachings of their respective religions.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Malta and Libya, the most senior member of the Catholic Church present at the meeting, noted that he was committed to developing excellent contacts with the Islamic community in an effort to find common ground and improve understanding.

“Secular discourses must not hinder our ability to discuss religious ideas in a respectful manner,” he said.

Concurring, the representative from the Malta Muslim Council said it was up to religious leaders to set an example of unity for young people and educate them to share the same spaces, while the Ahmadiyya representative urged religions to unite, “because unity is strength”.

The exhibition is only the beginning of a much bigger project to connect people, beliefs and cultures by creating opportunities for respectful, yet incisive dialogues to take place.

After closing in Valletta, the exhibition will move to other European cities, including the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, on a tour that will continue to the US until 2021.