Hawzah News Agency- on the occasion of the commemoration of the 22nd of Bahman, a grand celebration was held at the residence of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Vatican on Friday, February 10.

In this ceremony, a significant number of ambassadors and senior diplomats residing in the Vatican, the head of ceremonies of the Holy See, some officials of the Interreligious Dialogue Organization and other papal institutions, the head of the Ehsan Political Organization, the head of San Marco Church (the burial place of two Iranian saints who were martyred before Islam), the head of the international department of the Saint Egidio community, some officials of the Vatican Secretariat, representatives from the pontifical universities, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Rome, Sheikh Abbas de Palma, the head of the Italian Shia center, and a group of Shia and Muslim representatives from countries of Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as the diplomats of two embassies, the cultural advisor of Rome, the head of Iran Air, the head of Sepah Bank and a group of Iranian citizens attended.

In this program, in addition to broadcasting selected clips of the latest achievements and developments of the Islamic Republic of Iran during 45 years, an exhibition of cultural and civilizational works, especially beautiful images of churches and religious centers of other religions in Iran, was presented to the audience during the celebration.

After playing the national anthems of the two countries, Hujjat al-Islam Mokhtari, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Vatican welcomed the guests and congratulated on the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and said,” During the bipolar system, the Islamic Republic of Iran adopted a neutral policy and presented a new model of independent foreign policy and non-dependence on world power blocs to nations and governments. This slogan is derived from the spirit of independence of the Iranian nation in the glorious Islamic revolution and its foreign policy.”

While referring to the relations between Iran and the Vatican, he added,” Our relations are at the highest level between the leaders of both sides, His Excellency Pope Francis and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran; there are very good interactions and communications between the two sides. The relationship between Iran and the Vatican is more than 70 years old, and we are about to celebrate the 70th anniversary of political ties. In the field of religious dialogues and interfaith meetings, eleven rounds of dialogue between Islam and Christianity have been held in Tehran and Rome so far, and this year we will hold the twelfth round of these meetings in the Vatican.”