Hawzah News Agency - Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, head of Iran’s Seminary, in the first hours of his trip to Italy, attended a meeting with Shia Muslims of this country in the Al-Mahdi Center in Rome and spoke at the commemoration ceremony of Imam Khomeini.

At the beginning of his speech at the ceremony, which was attended by Iranian ambassadors to Rome and the Vatican and Iran's cultural advisor in Italy, the head of Iranian seminaries voiced his support for all oppressed Muslims and expressed sympathy and solidarity with the Palestinians and Yemenis.

Ayatollah Arafi went on to say, "Many experts in the years leading to Iranian Islamic revolution in 1979 were disappointed with the life of religion and spirituality and thought that the era of religious beliefs was over; But Imam Khomeini (RA) proved that religion is always dynamic since it plays a vital role in the context of events and developments in human life.”

Later Hujjat al-Islam Abbas Di Palma, one of the Shia missionaries in Italy, praised the character of Imam Khomeini in a speech and said, "Imam Khomeini (RA) founded the Islamic Revolution and the results of his efforts can be seen all over the world, even though more than thirty years have passed since his demise, But in all stages of our lives in different parts of the world, we feel the presence of late Imam Khomeini.

The Italian Shia cleric further added, "The presence of a delegation from Iran’s Islamic seminary among the Muslims of Italy helps us to better understand the influence of late Imam Khomeini's thought and teachings among us.

He added, “Imam Khomeini became a means to promote divine values among human beings and he founded a revolution completely different from any other revolutions. The Islamic revolution, beyond material desires, introduced man to his deep inner desires and needs and awakened lofty aspirations among human beings.

Salami Ashour, one of the pro-Palestinian activists present at the ceremony also made some remarks on the demise anniversary of late Imam Khomeini (RA) and said, "We are honored to celebrate the greatest revolution of our time. God loved the late Imam Khomeini and chose him to revive the divine values and lofty ideals.”

In the end, Salami Ashour stated, “Late Imam Khomeini revived Muslims’ identity and personality, established the cause of Palestine and taught Muslim community that Allah almighty is greater than the tyranny and rebellion of the oppressors. He also taught Muslims that we can stand against hegemonies and tyrannical powers; his teachings are currently manifested in the Occupied Palestine, Gaza strip and Quds as well as the whole front of the Islamic resistance.”