The Council co-sponsored, in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Chicago, two major interfaith events in the Chicagoland area on Tuesday, February 24. The events were hosted at MAS’s Chicago headquarter in Bridgeview and the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook

The interfaith events commemorated the fourth anniversary of a historic meeting between Pope John Paul II and Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi of al-Azhar University. The Committee for Dialogue, an international group of Muslim and Catholic leaders, met May of 2000 and dedicate February 24^th as an annual "Dialogue Day" between Muslims and Catholics.

"In a message he delivered at the Bridgeview event (which was simultaneously read out at the Northbrook event) Chairman Kareem Irfan highlighted the significant strides made under the auspices of the Council and Cardinal George’s leadership at the Chicago Archdiocese in improving ties and understanding between Chicago’s Muslim and Christian communities in the Chicago area. He was forceful in exhorting exhorted leaders and activists of these faiths to resolutely take up the challenge of now translating these successes into practical projects that yield tangible results of benefit to American society."