It was the second director, Friar Gabriele Gian/BErar/DIni, who steered the Musky Centre towards the study of Oriental Christianity. The Franciscan Centre for Oriental Studies was founded in 1954 for the Custody of the Holy Land. Its director today is Friar Vincenzo Misrih, who says that the centre's library has become an important meeting place for Catholic and Orthodox scholars. Coptic students, most of them members of the laity, come to find documents and information in this, the first Christian library in Cairo. Over time the library has also become a centre of contact with Islam.
The Moslem intelligentia has begun to frequent the library, also to carry out research into Christianity. These scholars are interested in Moslem-Christian encounters, for example in the Crusades; they want to know why the Popes supported these Crusades, why the Crusaders came here, and what they did here. And this is all for the good in that the sources can be viewed objectively, rather than from a one-sided point of view.
The documents that Moslems are keen to see are mostly papal Bulls, but they are also interested in the lives of the Saints and the history of European Christianity. So there is a responsibility to promote awareness and encounter. There are, however, concerns for the future.
The principal difficulties involve lack of staff. Those who make up the present staff here can guarantee the continuation of the Centre for at least a few years, but beyond that, it is a question.
Although its has a reduced work force, the Musky Centre's resposibilities include the local parish, where assistance and support for many poor families are priorities. Poverty and instability have been compounded by the so-called Arab Spring which, says Father Vincenzo, has increased levels of criminality and insecurity. On the other hand there is now better participation in political and social life, especially among the young.
At the same time there is increased hope arising from a better participation of young people in social life for example, as well as in politics and in allied fields ... As you can easily imagine, they want to create something better for themselves. On reflection, I think that one can say that the simple facts of this departure from the past, and of a revelation of corruption here, have been beneficial. Of course, revolutions also have
negative aspects, but on the whole I think we can say that we have hope, and that we seek the best.
The Moslem intelligentia has begun to frequent the library, also to carry out research into Christianity. These scholars are interested in Moslem-Christian encounters, for example in the Crusades; they want to know why the Popes supported these Crusades, why the Crusaders came here, and what they did here. And this is all for the good in that the sources can be viewed objectively, rather than from a one-sided point of view.
The documents that Moslems are keen to see are mostly papal Bulls, but they are also interested in the lives of the Saints and the history of European Christianity. So there is a responsibility to promote awareness and encounter. There are, however, concerns for the future.
The principal difficulties involve lack of staff. Those who make up the present staff here can guarantee the continuation of the Centre for at least a few years, but beyond that, it is a question.
Although its has a reduced work force, the Musky Centre's resposibilities include the local parish, where assistance and support for many poor families are priorities. Poverty and instability have been compounded by the so-called Arab Spring which, says Father Vincenzo, has increased levels of criminality and insecurity. On the other hand there is now better participation in political and social life, especially among the young.
At the same time there is increased hope arising from a better participation of young people in social life for example, as well as in politics and in allied fields ... As you can easily imagine, they want to create something better for themselves. On reflection, I think that one can say that the simple facts of this departure from the past, and of a revelation of corruption here, have been beneficial. Of course, revolutions also have
negative aspects, but on the whole I think we can say that we have hope, and that we seek the best.