Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria, inaugurated the “Journey of Learning” conference organized by the Episcopal Church’s Christian-Muslim Center for Understanding and Partnership, in the presence of Archbishop Emeritus Dr. Mouneer Hanna, the center’s director.
In his opening remarks, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy expressed his joy at the launch of the “Journey of Learning” conference, highlighting its message of love and interfaith understanding. He emphasized that the gathering represents a practical step toward building a culture of dialogue, where representatives of different faiths come together to exchange knowledge and embrace openness toward one another. He affirmed that such initiatives sow the seeds of peace in a world thirsty for understanding and cooperation.
Dr. Mouneer Hanna stated that “Journey of Learning” is not a debate where we search for who is better or more correct. It is a shared experience in which we learn from one another. He added, “We are here to learn about Islam from Muslims, and about Christianity from Christians, in a spirit of mutual respect and genuine openness. The aim is not to compare, but to understand; not to remain ignorant of the other, but to truly know the other — as they see themselves and live their faith.”
Professor Dr. Ismail Abdallah, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies in Foreign Languages at Al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Languages and Translation, stressed that the primary goal of Journey of Learning is to know the other through specialists. He explained that listening to those with true knowledge and experience ensures the delivery of accurate and authentic information. This approach to learning opens doors to deeper understanding and mutual appreciation among all.
It is worth noting that the Christian-Muslim Center for Understanding and Partnership was established in June 2022 within the Diocese of the Episcopal Church in Egypt. The center aims to serve Egyptian society by promoting peace, understanding, and cooperation between religions through academic programs, community initiatives, peacebuilding projects, and conflict resolution efforts.