DUSHANBE, May 23, 2016, Asia-Plus -- His Highness the Aga Khan spent 5 days in Canada from May 16 to May 21, during which he met with various government leaders, including Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, according to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

The Aga Khan reportedly also met with the Boards of the Global Center for Pluralism and the Aga Khan Museum and delivered the introductory remarks at the Global Centre for Pluralism''s Annual Lecture.

On May 20, the Aga Khan received an Honorary Degree from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at a ceremony held at St Basil’s Collegiate Church in Toronto.

His Highness the Aga Khan, an honorary Canadian citizen and Companion of the Order of Canada, is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The degree was conferred by the Institute’s Chancellor, His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.

Delivering the citation, Mr. David Mulroney, President of the University of St. Michael''s College and former Ambassador to China, said: “Let us celebrate today our own connection to His Highness, a champion of pluralism, a transcender of borders and barriers, and a great, wise and benevolent connector.”

The Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies was founded in 1929 and received a papal charter in 1939. The Institute is an institution of academic researchers dedicated to transmitting the inheritance of the Middle Ages to new generations, and to deepening the understanding of the life and ideals of today’s Western culture through an understanding of the time of its first origins.

The Institute has recently taken a specific interest in the transmission of Arabic learning, Persian language and literature, and Islamic civilization.  In 2014, it launched an initiative which explores the three great Abrahamic faith traditions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – in the Middle Ages and concentrates on the inter-relationships and major points of contact during this period.