Witnesses of Mercy for Peace and Reconciliation

4 “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read.” The English playwright and poet, William Shake- speare, said: “Mercy is the essence of law.” The Russian writer and novelist, Leo Tolstoy, said: “Man should be merciful since mercy brings people together.” Today, the duty of religions and the responsibility of all religious leaders is to build a strong belief, through all means possible, that once again establishes a sound human understanding and appreciation of mercy as a humanitarian value, of which mankind will always be in constant need. The KAICIID Dialogue Centre believes that dialogue is an expression of mercy. Mercy is needed whenever dialogue is needed. HH Pope Francis said that dialogue helps us to increase the acts of mercy in the world. It allows us to understand the needs of others, to extend a helping hand and to build bridges of trust at a time when many are building walls of mistrust and fear. HE Faisal Bin Muaammar with Bibi Kiranjot Kaur (left) and Sadhvi Saraswati (centre) INTRODUCTORY WORDS His Excellency Faisal Bin Muaammar Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar was appointed Secretary General of the Vienna-based King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in October 2012. Prior to this appointment, he held a number of senior positions in the Saudi Arabian administration and var- ious nonprofit organizations. Among the highlights of a distinguished career which has encompassed major roles in state government and international organizations, Faisal Bin Muaammar served as Vice Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Advisor to the Royal Court of the, then, Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Deputy of the National Guard for Cultural and Educa- tional Affairs. He was instrumental in the foundation of the King Abdulaziz Public Library in 1987 and the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue in Riyadh (KACND) in 2003. He continues to work as Supervisor General of both these organizations, as well as Advi- sor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.