Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will meet this evening with Pope Benedict XVI at an interfaith gathering in Washington, D.C.

Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will meet this evening with Pope Benedict XVI at an interfaith gathering in Washington, D.C.

The meeting, with the theme "Peace Our Hope," will take place at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center and will include leaders from a number of American faith communities.

"We appreciate the invitation to meet with Pope Benedict and the opportunity to help build enduring positive relations between Muslims and the Catholic Church," said CAIR Co-Founder Nihad Awad, who will take part in the gathering.

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.