Essaouira craftsmen sculpted the wooden “Cross of Christ” to the “Brothers of Christ of the Crown” association based in Sevilla, through Mayor of Essaouira, Tarik Ottmani, and in the presence of Advisor to the King and co-president of the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation, André Azoulay.
Made from thuya wood in the purest tradition of the great Swabian school of marquetry, this two-metre-high cross will be placed under the porch of the Bronze Door that opens to the Giralda Cathedral. Tens of thousands pay their respects to this attraction on a daily basis.
Azoulay stated on this occasion, “Today in Seville, at the Hassan II Pavilion, headquarters of the Three Cultures Foundation, the largest Christian congregations in Andalusia have come together to follow the path that Morocco has opened up to our respective spiritualities, those of the Three Religions of the Book, so that they can meet, exchange and come together.”
Recalling the “exceptional welcome” reserved by King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people for Pope Francis during his historic visit to Morocco, Azoulay underlined the “strength, uniqueness and exemplarity of this message, which bears the seal of Morocco and which, from the Giralda Cathedral, is sent to the Community of Nations, more than ever in search of landmarks.”
Ottmani indicated that the presentation of this Cross of Christ is a message of brotherhood from Morocco to Andalusia and to all of Spain.
Thanking the representative of the Archbishop of Andalusia for his moving prayer for the King and the Moroccan people, Ottmani concluded by eloquently recalling the recent launch of the “Soul of Cultures” International Festival, another Essaouiri event dedicated to the Moroccan school of diversity and intercultural dialogue.