Prince Rahim conveyed warm greetings on behalf of Mawlana Hazar Imam, and on behalf of the worldwide Jamat. His Holiness Pope Francis thanked Prince Rahim for the warm gesture and asked that his good wishes be transmitted to Hazar Imam and members of his family, and to the global Ismaili community.

The Pope and Prince Rahim discussed areas of mutual interest and the potential for future collaboration. Prince Rahim was accompanied by Nazim Ahmad, the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal.

Institutions of the Ismaili Imamat and the Catholic Church have worked closely in Portugal on the provision of early childhood development and care for the elderly.

Pope Francis is in Portugal for World Youth Day, a global gathering where young people aim to deepen their faith by making a pilgrimage to see the Pontiff. Initiated in 1985, the event is hosted in a different city approximately every three years.

The Jamat has been on hand to support several related initiatives this week via Ismaili CIVIC. Leaders and volunteers took part in a multifaith tree planting ceremony at Lisbon’s Tropical Botanical Garden; while the Ismaili Centre Lisbon hosted an Aga Khan Master Musicians concert and a youth interfaith dialogue event, which also coincided with the Centre’s 25th anniversary celebrations.