TWO senior Finnish church leaders have concluded their ecumenical visit to Egypt this week with a call for continuing the inter-faith dialogue between the Muslim world and the West, Helsinki's Ambassador to Cairo Roberto Tanzi-Albi said. Archbishop Leo Makkonen, the head of the Orthodox Church of Finland, and Jukka Paarma, the Archbishop of Turku in western Finland, have extended an official invitation to Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayyeb to visit Finland this summer, the Ambassador added. He told The Gazette that Archbishops Leo and Jukka were on an ecumenical visit to Egypt that included a pilgrimage to Sinai monasteries, as well as exploring ways with Muslim and Christian leaders here for continuing the inter-faith dialogue. Archbishop Leo said that he entirely agrees with Al-Azhar's GrandSheikh, Egypt's Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa and the head of Egypt's CopticOrthodox Church, Pope Shenuda III, on the necessity of resuming the interfaith dialogue and working together to remove all the obstacles impeding its progress. "Sheikh el-Tayyeb has accepted an official invitation to visit Finland, his first to a Scandinavian country, in order to see what we can do about continuingthe inter-faith dialogue between Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders," Archbishop Leo of Karelia said. He added that Finnish President Tarja Halonen, who visited Egypt late last year, backs the dialogue and wants it to be resumed with the full co operation of all religious leaders, to create a better world for all the people. Archbishop Leo said he came to Egypt with his colleague Paarma, thehead of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, to show to the whole world that different faiths can live in harmony with each other. He said he held an important meeting with Pope Shenuda, who briefed him about the situation of the Copts in Egypt. Meanwhile, Archbishop Paarma said that he and Archbishop Leo discussed with Egyptian religious leaders how to bolster co-operation between Muslims and Christians through interfaith dialogue. "I believe that inter-faith dialogue is one of the most important issues in theworld today because it plays a key role in helping people of different faiths understand and love each other," Archbishop Paarma stressed. He said that what the world's people need today is love and understanding, regretting that some people misuse religious feelings for political purposes, exacerbating the many political conflicts in today's world. He also regretted the use of religion to justify acts of terror and violence. "That is why it is important that all the faithful, whether Christian, Muslims or others, are truly people of God. All religions teach that violence is unacceptable and that we should all love one other," he said. Archbishop Paarma, who is a big fan of Finnish composer Hean Sibelius, called for promoting dialogue among nations, as well as understanding and respect for diverse religions and cultures. He added that inter-faith dialogue is a very effective tool in combating religious extremism, while defending tolerance and freedom of religion. "God calls us to live in peace - and to oppose all those who use religion tojustify violence and political conflict," he stressed, adding that people should understand that they have the same ethics and values, while they must open their hearts and minds for a better world.
