ROME – Four British Muslim imams paid a special visit on Wednesday, April 5, to the Vatican, meeting with Pope Francis, coming together to promote peace and solidarity.

“This is a historic moment when the two biggest religions in the world, Christians and Muslims, must come together in unity and solidarity for peace,” Moulana Muhammad Shahid Raza said, Catholic Herald reported.

Along with Shahid Raza, imams included Moulana Ali Raza Rizvi, Moulana Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi and Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra.

Along with attending the papal audience, the delegation also met Cardinal Tauran at the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

The visit was first scheduled before March 22 Westminster attack, and was delayed to April 5th.

“The aim of the visit is to help promote clergymen who denounce violence carried out in God’s name,” Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, who accompanied the imams, told Catholic Herald.

“That is the voice that has to be heard to counter the rather more undifferentiating, unappreciative and even hostile voices that view Islamic people in Britain as somehow alien and unwelcome,” he continued.

Pope Francis told the imams that listening to each other was essential for the common future of humanity as we walk together in our shared lives.

“I was deeply moved by the audience with Pope Francis. I could see the sincerity and love in his eyes as he offered words of encouragement to all of us as we came together in unity,” Moulana Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi said.

“This is an important meeting offering hope for everyone, regardless of religion. There is a common humanity to all of us. Some seek to divide people, religions, east versus west, but there is no east or west; there is just our common humanity as we seek a peaceful future for all based on justice and compassion.”