Hawzah News Agency- Senior Scholar Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani had a meeting with Ayatollah Arafi, the head of Iran’s seminaries on Wednesday, June 22 in Qom during which he praised the international travel plans and interfaith talks among religions.

Referring to Ayatollah Arafi’s report on the achievements of his recent trip to five European countries and meeting with Pope Francis, Grand Ayatollah Sobhani added, "I was following the news regarding your trip to the Vatican, and I was very glad that you were able to achieve desired outcomes.”

Senior Shia scholar Grand Ayatollah Sobhani further emphasized,” The main parts and outcomes of this trip should be provided to scholars in order to form a discourse.”

Expressing hope that such trips could open up new horizons for the Islamic seminary, the Shia source of emulation added, "The Islamic seminary needs to boost international and inter-faith cooperation."

At the beginning of the meeting, Head of Iran’s Seminary Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, while appreciating and thanking Ayatollah Sobhani's instructions for this trip, said, “Your guidelines regarding Christianity were raised during the meetings and they were welcomed by Christian scholars; we also agreed to initiate joint cooperation in the field of publishing articles, books and encyclopedias between the Islamic seminary and the Vatican in the future.”

Ayatollah Arafi also expressed hope that with the follow-up measures that are being done, we as the Islamic seminary will be able to establish a new discourse, based on commonalities and in a wise and friendly atmosphere with Christianity, especially Catholic Christianity.