She expressed her admiration for the initiative of the Honorary President of the Academy, Assunta Gallo Afflito, which supports the values of living together that have always prevailed in Sicily.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Cardinal López Romero praised the religious model of the Kingdom, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
“The Catholic Church in Morocco has always transmitted universal messages,” the Cardinal said.
The Spanish-born member of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) underlined the dimensions of inter-religious dialogue, which he said manifested in the different initiatives of the Church, notably the visit of Pope Francis to the Kingdom at the invitation of the King, and in the daily life of Moroccans who live together in tolerance with Christians of the sub-Saharan community.
The Archbishop of Morocco’s Rabat also highlighted the role of the Ecumenical Institute of Theology Al Mowafaqa, which was created in Rabat as the initiative of the Catholic and Protestant Churches, noting that this institution ensures, in collaboration with Muslims, interreligious dialogue.
In Morocco, Cardinal Lopez Romero is noted for his efforts in fostering human development and interreligious dialogue.
Last year, the Catholic Church leader who was elevated to Cardinal in October 2019 called for solidarity in taking preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic because the deadly virus does not make distinctions between people or geographical borders.
“There is no room for selfishness and individualism; we are in the same boat,” Cardinal Lopez Romero stated in a message addressed to the faithful over COVID-19 in March 2020.
“We must think for the good of all. The suspension of meetings and Sunday Mass should be seen as an act of solidarity for the whole of humanity and as a gesture of love for one's neighbor, for our neighbors, for our colleagues,” the Cardinal said.
While launching the Diocesan Synod in June, the Archbishop of Rabat encouraged the small Catholic community in Morocco to more fully live out its mission of “encounter and dialogue.”
