Greetings of peace!
I would like to share the good news with you that an international delegation of Jewish Rabbis, Muslim Imams, Christian Priests, Pastors, scholars, professors and peace activists visited Pakistan for a week. They were in Islamabad and Lahore. Their aim was to experience Pakistani life and on-the-ground realities, as well as our challenges and efforts of Christian-Muslim dialogue.
For two days they were in Islamabad along with an international conference in our university. They also visited one poor Christian colony (Kachi Abadi) and saw the suffering of the poor people living in slums.
This delegation was also in Lahore and had a conference in one modern university of international repute with its professors and students as well. Part of their visit was also to see the old city of Lahore.
I was part of the host delegation and participated in all programs in Islamabad and Lahore and shared about our URI work.
While in Lahore, I took them to the Badshahi Mosque Lahore. This historic mosque was built in 1671 and can accommodate 100,000 worshipers.
Our URI leader and former Global Trustee, Mualana Abdul Khabir Azad, Grand Imam of this mosque, and myself gave guided tours of this historic mosque.
It was a great experience to see Jews, Christians and Muslims together in Pakistan and to be in a mosque and expressing mutual respect for each other.
Most of these international delegates came from Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Washington, DC.
May Peace Prevail On Earth!
In peace,
fr James Channan OP
URI Regional Coordinator Pakistan
