An organization to empower believers to speak to the world

 A “bridge” between religions and culture at a global level: this is essentially what the  King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue [KAICIID] intends to be. The independent institution for dialogue, with headquarters in Vienna is called after the King of Saudi Arabia, instrumental in its creation.

 At a press conference on 21 November, several details were announced concerning the inauguration of the structure, scheduled to take place next 26 November, and some of the lines its programme will follow were specified. The Holy See –  that will contribute to the activities of the Centre as a “Founding Observer” – will be represented at the ceremony by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

The Board of Directors of KAICIID – the organization that includes high level figures of the major world religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism – will also have a Catholic representative: Fr Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who, in addition, will act as observer.

“Dialogue based on respect, on mutual understanding and on collaboration”, Fr Ayuso Guixot emphasized, “is a vital necessity for our present and future. As an observer of the Holy See and a member of the Board of Directors for the Catholic Church I will have the opportunity to support the KAICIID in promoting these values”.