[Lambeth Palace] The Archbishop of Canterbury has welcomed a group of Shia theologians to Lambeth Palace at the culmination of three days of dialogue with Christian theologians, hosted by Harris Manchester College, Oxford and the British Council.

Expressing his appreciation for this dialogue, Archbishop Justin Welby said:

“At a time of increasing fear and division in the world, it is ever more important that people of faith, Christians and Muslims, come together to work towards the common good for the betterment of all.

“As Anglicanism has its roots in the United Kingdom, and Shi’ism in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the former Persian Empire, I recognise that there is great potential for our faith to act as a bridge between our faith communities and the countries in which they are based.”