The Grand Imam headed for Bologna to attend Religions, Culture and Dialogue conference, delivering one of its keynote speeches. His Eminence also visited the University of Bologna, the oldest and most prestigious university in Europe. The University awarded him the Greatest Record Medal, the highest academic medal awarded by an academic institution to a number of political and religious leaders, thinkers and scholars.

His Eminence the Grand Imam met the Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, who confirmed that At-Tayyeb represents a great advocate of dialogue and peace in the world, and that his picture with the Pope brought down many barriers.

The Imam’s visit to Italy was crowned with him meeting His Holiness Pope Francis of the Vatican, the fourth summit bringing together these two greatest religious leaders in the world.