OTTAWA — The spiritual leader of the world’s 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims called on Canadians Thursday to join him in making the world a more tolerant, peaceful place.
“Canada is a leader in the community of nations,” the 77-year-old Aga Khan told MPs and senators in a joint session of Parliament.
He was welcomed with repeated standing ovations in the packed House of Commons. The audience in the galleries included many Ismaili Muslim representatives invited for the occasion.
The Harvard-educated religious leader spoke elegantly in both official languages, mixing humour and history as he offered a solemn plea for peace in a badly divided world.
He opened by paying tribute to Canada’s recent gold-medal Olympic hockey victories and joked that, as an honorary Canadian citizen, he would have liked to have played for the team.
“The Dalai Lama and I would have been a formidable defence.”
via Aga Khan tells MPs, senators that Canada is a leader among nations | Vancouverdesi.com.
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