Aga Khan V Meets Portuguese President Amidst Condolences
The meetings and ceremonies mark the beginning of a new era for the Ismaili community, with Prince Rahim Aga Khan V at the helm, and underscore the strong bonds between the community and other faith groups, as well as its commitment to promoting education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the Palácio de Belém, marking his first official meeting with the President since his accession as Imam, and discussed deepening ties between the Ismaili Imamat and Portugal.
The meeting took place after leaders of the Dawoodi Bohra Community paid a condolence call on Prince Rahim, following the demise of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. The delegation handed over a letter of condolence, praising the late Aga Khan's leadership and efforts in promoting education, healthcare, and social welfare. The Syedna recalled the shared ancestry and deep bond between the Dawoodi Bohra and Ismaili Communities, dating back to the time of His Holiness Syedna Tahir Saifuddin and Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the new 50th hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims, has taken over as the spiritual leader after the passing of his father. He was formally installed in a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, where he pledged to dedicate his life to the well-being of the community. During the ceremony, Prince Rahim accepted pledges of allegiance from the leaders of the Ismaili community worldwide and signed a constitutional instrument confirming his role as Imam-of-the-Time.
As Prince Rahim begins his new role, he emphasized the importance of balancing worldly and spiritual matters and urged his followers to lead by example in addressing climate change. With his experience serving on the boards of various agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, Prince Rahim is well-equipped to lead the community and build on the legacy of his father.
