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Pope Francis met with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Tuesday — the first meeting between a pope and an Iranian leader in 17 years — and urged Iran to play an “important role” in finding political solutions for the various conflicts afflicting the Middle East.
The
two leaders stressed “the importance of interreligious dialogue” to
achieve this aim and the responsibilities of religious communities “in
promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace,” the Vatican said in a statement.
The
private, 40-minute encounter with the pope came midway into Mr.
Rouhani’s packed agenda on his four-day visit to Italy and France, where
he is trying to re-establish trade and business ties after years of
crippling sanctions. The trip follows the deal between Iran and several
world powers to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the
lifting of the sanctions.
After
the meeting, the Vatican spoke of “the important role that Iran is
called upon to fulfill” in promoting peaceful solutions to Middle East
conflicts and countering the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking.
Since
he became pope nearly three years ago, Francis has repeatedly spoken
out against extremism and violence done in the name of religion. He has
also called for diplomacy and dialogue in the Middle East and
highlighted the impact the conflicts have had, most visibly on the
millions of refugees that have been fleeing to Europe to escape the
violence.
The pope was also a strong supporter of the Iranian nuclear agreement, and last Easter he praised the plan as “a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world.”
Meeting
with the Iranian diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See earlier
this month, Pope Francis cited the nuclear deal as one of several
important agreements brokered in 2015 that gave “solid hope for the
future.” The pope said he hoped that the Iranian deal would “contribute
to creating a climate of détente in the region.”
The
Iranian delegation, which included Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad
Zarif, also met with the Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro
Parolin, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations
with states. The last time an Iranian president met with a pope was in
March 1999, when Pope John Paul II met with President Mohammad Khatami.
Mr. Khatami also led the Iranian delegation at John Paul II’s funeral in
2005. Pope Paul VI, who traveled to Tehran in 1970, is the only pope to
have visited Iran.
An Iranian visit to the Vatican scheduled for November was canceled because of the terrorist attacks in Paris.
In
meeting with Italian political and business leaders, including Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi, the Iranian president said Iran had played an
important role in stabilizing the region, both economically as well as
in fighting terrorism. On Twitter, Mr. Rouhani noted the two countries’
efforts to improve business ties:
Another Twitter post showed Mr. Rouhani and Mr. Renzi observing as their representatives signed economic agreements:
Before
his meeting at the Vatican on Tuesday, Mr. Rouhani told business
leaders in Rome that the Quran “invites Muslims to protect churches and
synagogues before anything else. This means tolerance.”
The
meeting at the Vatican ended with an exchange of gifts. The Iranian
president gave the pope a handmade carpet and an illustrated book of
miniatures. Pope Francis reciprocated with a medallion of St. Martin and
a copy of “Laudato Si,” his encyclical on the environment.
Francis thanked Mr. Rouhani for the visit and told him, “I hope for peace.”
President Rouhani asked the pope to pray for him.
