Vatican welcomes cooperation with Iran on family affairs

Rome, Feb 13, IRNA – Vatican's Pontificial Council for the Family has welcomed bilateral cooperation with Iran on family affairs. The President of Pontificial Council for the Family Vincenzo Paglia, in a joint press conference with Vice President in Women and Family Affairs Shahindokht Molawerdi expressed hope for further bilateral cooperation and more meetings in the future. Referring to the meeting between the Iranian delegation and the Pontificial Council, Paglia said the two sides discussed the problems of family in modern world and concluded that Muslims and Christians should cooperate on this issue. He said next month at the United Nations in New York and also in Philadelphia meeting marking the World Day of Family, there will be more meetings with Iranian officials. Meanwhile, Molawerdi, who is visiting Italy heading a delegation said in the meeting with the Pontificial Council, medical, legal, and sociological problems of family were discussed. She added these problems are global and need consultations and common solutions in this regard are necessary. Molawerdi said common problems of family, crisis in marriage and family disintegration, violence against women, and child abuse were among other issues discussed with the Pontificial Council. In their visit to Italy, the Iranian delegation met with the Head of Catholic Church Pope Francis as well as with Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and discussed issues of mutual interest.