His Majesty King Mohammed VI Commander of the Faithful and His Holiness Pope Francis sign “The Al-Quds Call”
Rabat, March 30th, 2019.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful and Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, along with His Holiness Pope Francis, signed the “The Al-Quds Call” on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace in Rabat.
The Call aims to preserve and promote the unique character of Al-Quds as a City of multi-faith religions, with its spiritual dimension and distinctive identity as a holy City.
Here follows the full text of the Call. It was read in Arabic by Mr. Mohammed Yassif, Secretary-General of the Higher Council of Islamic Affairs, and in Italian by Mr. Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Vatican City Secretariat.
The joint declaration of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Holiness Pope Francis on Jerusalem as a sacred city and a land of encounter:
On the occasion of His Holiness Pope Francis’s visit to the Kingdom of Morocco, both His Holiness and His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, acknowledging the unity and sanctity of Jerusalem/ Al-Quds, and in preserving its spiritual essence and distinguished status as a city of peace, have agreed to issue the following Call:
We affirm the importance of preserving the Holy City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as a shared heritage of humankind, particularly for the believers of the three monotheistic religions. It stands as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and serves as a meeting place fostering mutual esteem and dialogue.
To this end, it is necessary to preserve and enhance the distinctive character of Al-Quds as a city of multiple religions, in addition to its spiritual dimension and unique identity.
We therefore hope that access to the sacred sites within the Holy City will be guaranteed for the followers of the three monotheistic religions, and their right to perform their respective rituals shall be protected. This will make Al-Quds resound with the prayers of all believers to the Almighty, the Creator of all things, for a future where peace and brotherhood prevail throughout the world.