A number of ancient manuscripts and sources housed in the Vatican Library have a historical relationship with Arab and Islamic civilization, dating back to the first translations undertaken by the Arabs from the Greek language and their transmission to the Romans, who later benefited from them in the Islamic civilization.

In an initiative to establish cultural dialogue, a delegation from the International Media Center at Imam Hussain Holy Shrine had earlier visited the Library of the Holy See and the Pontifical Institute, which includes historical sources related to Arab and Islamic civilization, to discuss the possibility of supplementing the renowned library with sources selected by the Holy Shrine for the benefit of researchers and students at the Pontifical Institute for Islamic Studies.

The outcomes of the cooperation began to materialize in the hosting of the head of the Vatican Library, Archbishop Vincenzo Tizzani, to participate in the Rabee al-Shahada Cultural Festival held annually by the Holy Shrine, and on the sidelines of it, a meeting was held with the guest in the presence of Sayyed Riyad al-Hakim, where a set of constructive ideas were brought up to establish future cultural, scientific and academic cooperation programs with the Vatican’s cultural and scientific institutions.

The Vatican Library includes rare Arabic historical manuscripts, some of which were displayed in international exhibitions. Monsignor Thomas Travni, Deputy Commissioner General of the Holy See, said, "There are many manuscripts that are related to the introduction of Arabic numerals to the Western world, which helped the advancement of mathematics and astronomy."

Travni added, "There are manuscripts that have not left the Vatican Library and are treated with a high degree of importance. Among those manuscripts that the Arabs consider to be most important is the document associated with the 'House of Wisdom' in Baghdad, which refers to the translation of astronomical knowledge from Greek into Arabic."