ASTANA – Kazakhstan Vice President and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Erlan Karin met with Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, on Oct. 2 to discuss interfaith cooperation and joint humanitarian initiatives.
Kazakh Vice President Erlan Karin and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad with participants of the Second Joint Colloquium in Astana. Photo credit: Akorda.
During the meeting, the officials discussed cooperation within the framework of the Congress and the Joint Colloquium, as well as implementing joint humanitarian initiatives, reported Akorda.
Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad conveyed warm greetings from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his best wishes to the people of Kazakhstan.
Joint Colloquium on children’s rights
Following the meeting, Karin and Cardinal Koovakad attended the opening of the Second Joint Colloquium dedicated to protecting the life, health and dignity of children with severe and incurable illnesses.
The event brought together representatives of government bodies, religious organizations, medical and scientific institutions and experts.
Addressing the opening, Karin stressed that interfaith dialogue should produce concrete humanitarian outcomes. He also highlighted the political and socioeconomic reforms being implemented under Tokayev’s leadership.
According to Karin, improving citizens’ well-being remains the main objective of the reforms, while protecting children, notably those in vulnerable situations, remains a key priority of state policy.
Kazakhstan-Vatican humanitarian initiative
Participants discussed a draft Charter on the Rights of Children with Incurable Diseases, being advanced as a joint Kazakhstan-Vatican initiative.
Karin thanked the Dicastery and Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital for their contribution to preparing the document and highlighted the hospital’s cooperation with the University Medical Center corporate foundation.
