Archbishop's Visit to Egypt

In a lecture delivered at the al-Azhar al-Sharif Institute in Cairo, Dr Williams said: "The greatest challenge today for our world is how to react to circumstances in a way that is faithful to God's will."

He added: "So when the Christian, the Muslim or the Jew sees his neighbour of another faith following the ways of this world instead of the peaceful will of God, he must remind his neighbour of the nature of the one God we look to...Once we let go of justice, fairness and respect in our dealings with one another, we have dishonoured God as well as human beings.

"We may rightly want to defend ourselves and one another – our people, our families, the weak and vulnerable among us. But we are not forced to act in revengeful ways, holding up a mirror to the terrible acts done to us. If we do act in the same way as our enemies, we imprison ourselves in their anger, their evil. And we fail to show our belief in the living God who always requires of us justice and goodness."

On Christian-Muslim relations, Dr Williams spoke of the important scope for better understanding: "...despite some of our differences, we can, in the light of our belief about Almighty God, together make certain affirmations to the world about the way to peace and justice for human beings."

He cited the bloodshed in Russia: "It has been impressive to hear in recent days the strength and clarity with which so many Muslim nations and Muslim leaders have condemned the unspeakable atrocities in Beslan. The common commitment of Muslims and Christians, as of all people of compassion, hope  and intelligence, is not for a moment in doubt in this context."

In a British context, Dr Williams highlighted plans for practical solidarity between faith communities when under threat: "...we hope a Christian community will give support to local Muslims if a mosque is attacked, and Muslims may do the same for local Jews if a synagogue is attacked or a cemetery desecrated, and Muslims and Jews will stand alongside Christians when they are abused and attacked. We pray that this willingness to stand alongside each other will be shared in other nations."

Dr Williams was speaking on the third anniversary of 9/11 and following a regular September meeting in Cairo of the Dialogue between the Anglican Communion and al-Azhar al-Sharif, which was being set up at the time of the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.

Other engagements scheduled for the Archbishop's weekend visit to Egypt, included meetings with senior political and religious leaders, preaching at the Anglican cathedral in Cairo and laying the foundation stone for a Christian-run community health centre.