The Vatican might expand its Catholic-Jewish dialogue to include Muslims as well, according to a Vatican official.

Speaking during an interview after the World Jewish Congress Monsignor, head of the Vatican's office for interreligious dialogue Michael Fitzgerald, said its chairman, Rabbi Israel Singer, has been discussing the possibility of including the Muslims with Fitzgerald and other high-ranking Vatican officials during a visit to Rome.

The talks focused on intensifying the Vatican's official dialogue with Jews, but they also included "specific possibilities to expand interfaith talks to also include representatives from the Islamic faith," a WJC statement said.

"It is important to enter into discussions with the third 'Abrahamic child,' Islam," Singer said in the statement. "No one in the meetings has underestimated the difficulties in bringing about a meaningful dialogue. But we all agreed that the principle of mutual respect can override differences that exist between the religions."

Fitzgerald confirmed his meeting with Singer last Thursday during which they discussed "the various meetings taking place between Jews, Christians and Muslims."

"We examined the possibility in doing something in this line," he said. However he stressed that discussions with Singer were "just an exploratory meeting."

Pope Benedict XVI had previously met with Muslim representatives during his visit to Cologne, Germany last August.

Source: The Jerusalem Post