Hawzah News Agency- Head of Islamic Seminaries of Iran, Ayatollah Arafi, congratulates Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay on his appointment as the new Secretary General of the World Council of Churches. The full text of Ayatollah Arafi's letter of congratulations and His Excellency Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay's response are as follow:
His Excellency Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
Honorable Secretary General of the World Council of Churches
Greetings and respect;
Congratulations on your appointment as the new Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, and I pray to God for your success in this important responsibility.
The presence of our dear friend, His Excellency Ioan Sauca, former Acting Secretary General of WCC in the holy city of Qom, as well as his warm and cordial hospitality to the representatives of the Hawzah Ilmiyyah (Islamic Seminaries) of Iran in Switzerland, not only brought us happy memories, but also paved the way for important steps towards the direction of religious brotherhood and cooperation of the divine religions.
We hope that these events will be repeated during the time that you are in charge of this important position, and that the religious cooperation between the Islamic Seminaries of Iran and the World Council of Churches will continue.
Finally, I congratulate you again on this new position. May your appointment opens new doors of interfaith cooperation opportunities.
Wishing you all the best and success in your new position.
Alireza Aarafi
Head of Hawzah Ilmiyyah in Iran
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi
Head of Hawzah Ilmiyyah in Iran
Pretoria, July 5, 2022
Your Excellency,
Greetings of peace to you!
Thank you so much for your letter of June 25, 2022 following my election to the post of General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
I have gratefully received your cordial greetings, your encouraging and promising words of support in these challenging times, and your invitation for continuing the collaboration and partnership with the Islamic seminaries in Iran. Your words strengthen me as I now prepare for taking over the work I am called to do for our common witness in the world.
Yours Respectfully,
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary-Elect
World Council of Churches
