Pope Francis welcomes UAE committee to promote human fraternity

The multi-faith committee has members from the UAE, Egypt, Spain and Italy

Pope Francis on Monday thanked the UAE “for the concrete commitment shown on behalf of human fraternity”, after a committee was set up last Monday to support the cause.  AFP / Alberto PIZZOLI

On Monday, Pope Francis thanked the UAE “for the concrete commitment shown on behalf of human fraternity”, after a committee was set up last Monday to support the cause.

The Pope also  said he hopes that similar initiatives may arise in other parts of the world.

“Although sadly evil, hatred and division often make news, there is a hidden sea of goodness that is growing and leads us to hope in dialogue, reciprocal knowledge and the possibility of building — together with the followers of other religions and all men and women of good will — a world of fraternity and peace,” he said.

The Pope and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayyeb, signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together in Abu Dhabi in February.

That document led the UAE to set up a high committee to spread the principles of tolerance and co-operation, especially through education.

The multi-faith committee, which has members from the UAE, Egypt, Spain and Italy, will develop a framework to ensure the objectives of the Document on Human Fraternity.

It will draft, implement and oversee plans to put the goals of the document in place and meet religious leaders, heads of international organisations and others to support and spread document’s message.

Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is a member of the UAE committee.

The initiative is “very important” and will help educators get to the heart of the Document on Human Fraternity, Bishop Guixot told Vatican Radio.

"The opportunity to educate ourselves and others in a culture of encounter, fraternity, and peace means finding the will to redesign the academic and educational  programmes offered by Institutes and universities," he said.

Bishop Guixot thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, for the committee’s creation.