After greeting and welcoming Hujatuleslam Dr. Khatami, and other guests and those who worked hard for setting up this event at IEC, he continued:

"No doubt, living in an atmosphere where true human values are revered and appreciated and no human being faces degradation and humiliation is among the greatest aspirations of mankind. Humanity seeks the day when human merits are esteemed and respected more than anything in this earthly world and no man is subject to the avarice of others. In Islamic and particularly Shia thought, Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his coming) is the one to fulfill this long-standing aspiration of mankind.

He is the one who would lead mankind to its true destination and rescues humanity from wretchedness and misery. He shall elevate human beings as the most cherished creations of God to their true status and every aspect of humanity will be revered during his reign.

Presently humanity, void of identity and ruled by the self-serving men of power and possessions is facing a bleak future that drains hope and instigates pessimism. For man cannot remain optimistic and place its hopes in the future, when after enduring great pain and agony throughout history, it enters an era where the affluent, powerful and domineering rule and no trace of benevolence and humanity exists and the rights of human beings are trampled.

Therefore, to envision a bright future and to depict the ultimate aspiration of the civil human and a future filled with righteous values and munificence, we must first define the status and position of man and human significance in all discourse even through dialogue among cultures and civilizations. A plan must thus be presented for life in which man, achieves its long lost prominence and false objectives do not replace the true aspirations of humanity. Where all traps and intricate schemes are removed and human beings experience true freedom in their lives with all chains and entanglements eliminated from the body of mankind.

In the words of the Holy Quran, for man to be freed from all chains and shackles. Such an objective, which has been the very goal sought by all mankind throughout history has not yet materialized.

The awaited Imam is the fulfiller of such great human aspirations. This great savior of mankind, will seek to rediscover and redefine the essence of humanity as did the great prophets and will pave the path for the realization of this ideal, removing all the obstacles in our way. Its culmination will be felt within the context of daily life and witnessed in the scientific arena. Its manifestation will be seen unbiased and void of prejudice in the vast spheres of life.

Humankind has endured a great amount of oppression, enslavement, subjugation, and annihilation of past generations throughout its history and interesting optimistic ideas, especially those that have already been tried, soon lose their effectiveness.

If today the concept of dialogue among civilizations and cultures is presented as an idea that contrasts the mentality of clash and confrontation, an idea that is presented to the world from the land of Ruhollah (blessed be his soul) and during the reign and velayat of our dear Seyed Ali and by a scholar such as yourself from the family of Ruhullah and is attractive to the world, it is because societies are tired of oppression and injustice. However, it is not clear what the power mongers will do to such an idea when it comes to implementing it. As we witness how far greater designs like the establishment of the institution of the United Nations and global nuclear disarmament and human rights have been derailed through great machinations and utilized for the legalization of injustice.

In the blessed era of his coming, the arena of science will expand to such an extent that humanity will witness the realization of all its potentials and recognize its true status. Mankind will learn to prevent the misuse of its talents and will no longer allow its abilities to be exploited. The false Gods and current proprietors and administrators will be cast aside and the ignorant who claim knowledge and expertise will be left behind and the real path of life, free of all deviation, will open before mankind.

The sad story of man in the present economic sphere is quite sorrowful and despite the awe inspiring developments in all fields of science and industry, this sad chapter is not closed. It is quite unfortunate that not only man’s suffering did not end, but the issues facing mankind became more complex and discordant. Human merits and virtues were crushed among the gears of industrial capitalism and economy. Great calamities befell mankind and even man’s natural environment was endangered in ways that were never experienced throughout past centuries.

Is it not that the injustice of our times is vividly seen in all arenas?

During the just reign of Imam Mahdi (may peace and blessings be upon him) all mankind will be freed from daily anxieties and fears and would find all the commodities and vocations that they seek at their disposal. On such a day of man’s submission to God and his becoming free of want, the glorious sun would cast its rays upon life and all humankind will find contentment and tranquility. People will then seek humanity and morality without fear of material shortages and deficiencies. Life will be as describe by the Holy Prophet:

Imam Mahdi will remove the chains of enslavement from around your necks and the degraded masses particularly the poor will achieve greatness and magnanimity befitting humankind and necessary for living like true human beings.

The material needs of man leads him to negligence, alienation, and loss of human dignity. The awaited Imam will establish the means for the material prosperity and welfare of mankind and will spread this blessing to all corners of the world and thus will restore the dignity of oppressed masses lost throughout history.

The existence of the lofty aspiration of “hope and anticipation” and the image of a better tomorrow in the minds and hearts of people, is the best means of prolonging the life of human self-esteem.

If people do not succumb to hopelessness and believe in the ultimate destiny of man, they will rise to preserve their dignity even today and allow the path of the righteous and noble human beings to continue. They will consider the restoration of their self-respect as a possibility and a phenomenon that is within their reach.

Therefore, those who form the aspirations of civilizations and depict the future destiny of man play a vital role in the strengthening the foundations of humanity.

Any school of thought or denomination or religion and any humanitarian idea and belief in the abilities of man that fails to shed light on the ultimate destiny of man will only lead mankind to defeat, despair and loss of human virtues and allow for total despondency and loss of hope for the future of humanity.

At the end, I must state that the manifestation of the human utopia and global civilization and justice and the new world order and the restoration of rights that have been undermined will not materialize, save with the coming of the awaited Imam. The adherents of all monotheistic religions look forward to the coming of mankind’s true savior so that dignity is once again restored to human race.