The 26 October we got the great opportunity to make an official visit to the Pope Francis in the Vatican City , such an event was part of an official invitation from the department of interfaith relations of the Vatican to our beloved Dervish Eliton as leader of the First Albanian Bektashi Teqe in America.
It was a ceremony that not only gave hope to all bektashis around the world but also marked the first step to relations between the Vatican and the Bekashi Teqe in America. The main topics were the problem of irreligious sentiments and the common points about muslim and christians.
Some of the words Dervish Eliton share with the pope were:
“People have come to give more importance to materialism rather than spirituality. However, the same problem existed not only at the beginning of Islam, but also at the beginning of Christianity. Personally, I cannot accept that the world is going thorough this problem. Such claims are essentially expectations, perhaps secret desires, put forward by those who cannot accept themselves with their own values, hoping for help from conflicts and hostilities. As it is expressed in the Qur’an, human beings have been created and always pursue good and beautiful things. But sometimes, unintentionally or unconsciously, stones that he does not expect appear on his path . It is this generosity and beauty inherent in man’s own creation that encourages the man for a worldwide dialogue. I have full faith and hope that humanity, whose yeast is kneaded with goodness and beauty, will one day come to the line required and forced by this leaven. At the moment, I believe that humanity, tired of wars, conflicts, spilled blood, and persecutions, is ready for a universal dialogue and peace, and that the conjuncture is suitable for such a dialogue, and that for this blessed purpose, if we do not take a wrong step, we will be at a point of fate-equilibrium.”
Also the Pope emphasized that is very important that in hard times trust in God is the clue to overcome problems and that every battle in our lives have a purpose in our path that comes from God.
Finally our dear Dervish expressed that:
“Muslims and Christians have more things in common than differences and that we must focus on this similarities.”
This meeting marks the first of upcoming events planned by the teqe to spread the message of peace,love and respect trough the world.
