Iran eyes deeper spiritual diplomacy with Vatican amid 2025 pilgrimage push
Iran is ready to open “a new chapter” in spiritual diplomacy and interfaith dialogue with the Vatican, Culture and Tourism Minister Reza Salehi Amiri said, citing shared values and deep religious traditions.
Speaking during a meeting with Archbishop Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, Salehi Amiri pointed to the Islamic Republic’s “civilizational experience” and holy sites as a foundation for a broader push in faith-based diplomacy, IRNA reported.
“The year 2025, declared by the Pope as ‘2025 Holy Year’ must become a turning point,” he said, calling it a chance to “revive the role of religions in reimagining meaning” in a world rattled by conflict and confusion.
Pilgrimage, he added, is more than just ritual. It is a “shared narrative” of truth, compassion, and peace that binds peoples together.
Salehi Amiri, who traveled to the Vatican as the special envoy of President Masoud Pezeshkian for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, said Iran seeks to help shape global pilgrimage routes, promote “peace caravans,” and invest in scholarly exchange on interfaith dialogue.
“What the world needs today,” he said, “is a return to a shared religious understanding of human dignity.”
Gallagher welcomed Iran’s stance and praised what he called an “intelligent and accurate” linkage between pilgrimage and global peace. He said the Catholic Church supports initiatives that promote coexistence, spiritual exchange, and joint pilgrimage routes.
Iran’s active role in 2025-related programs, Gallagher added, could “reinforce the divine identity of contemporary humanity.” He emphasized Iran’s vast potential in Islamic theology, pilgrimage culture, and interfaith cooperation.
The Vatican and Iran have engaged in occasional high-level talks since formal diplomatic relations were established in 1954. Pope Francis has often spoken of the importance of dialogue with the Islamic world, notably during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021.