Hawzah News Agency- Shia scholar Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, one of the supreme authorities of imitation, in a letter to the director of the seminaries, made remarks about the meeting between Ayatollah Arafi and Pope Francis.

Ayatollah Sobhani's letter states, Your Excellency's visit to the Vatican is the first official relationship between the seminary of Qom and the Catholic Church.

Grand Ayatollah went on to highlight that Pope Francis is more distinguished than his predecessor since during his visit to Iraq and meeting with Grand Ayatollah Sistani, he expressed his assertive character; this suggests that Pope Francis’ character is not conservative rather interested in the truth of ongoing developments in the world.

Scientific and academic cooperation and exchange of professors and students are to some extent appropriate, Ayatollah Sobhani added.

The best suggestion is to write a small volume encyclopedia on common theological issues. Of course, joint scientific actions such as discussing child and family rights and the environment are very suitable for discussion and it is appropriate to invite Vatican faculty members to Iran and also to visit their seminary centers.