Muslim diplomats to attend intensive course on Vatican diplomacy

Published: 2007-05-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A group of diplomats from predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe will meet with top Vatican officials during an intensive three-week course on the Catholic Church. The aim of the May 7-27 course is to help Muslim governments understand how the Vatican works, especially in diplomacy, and to familiarize participants with the church and its network of social and humanitarian services. The course, titled "The Catholic Church and International Politics of the Holy See," was organized by two Rome-based Catholic organizations: the Gregorian University Foundation, which promotes pontifical universities, and the Jacques Maritain International Institute, a think tank. Roberto Papini, head of the Jacques Maritain International Institute, said organizers hoped participants would become a small corps of "Vatican experts" who could facilitate mutual respect and understanding between Muslims and Catholics.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .