The pope participated in the virtual event to celebrate International Day of Human Fraternity.
The United Nations designated this day petitioned by the United Arab Emirates to commemorate the day the pope and the leader of the Sunni Muslims, Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, signed the document on human fraternity two years ago.
A special committee was created to promote the document's message. Judge and committee member Abdel Salam led the online event
The Grand Imam said this day should act as a reminder of the need for a more united world. He and the pope praised each other's courage in pushing this initiative forward.
POPE FRANCIS
“The most beautiful part of all this was that initial desire for fraternity that gradually transformed into real fraternity among us. Thank you, brother. Thank you.”
Pope Francis' message was very clear. He said it's not a time for indifference, and that the only valid option is fraternity.
POPE FRANCIS
'We cannot say, 'brothers or not brothers,' but rather, 'brothers or enemies.'”
He also said fraternity does not mean rejecting one's own ideas or roots, but rather listening to, accepting and counting on one another.
POPE FRANCIS
“Fraternity means firmness in one's own convictions, because there is no true fraternity if one's own convictions are negotiable. We are brothers and sisters, born from the same Father. We have different cultures and traditions, but we are all brothers and sisters.”
The winners of the Zayed Prize, inspired by the document on human fraternity, were also announced during the event. They were UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and Latifa Ibn Ziaten, who founded an organization for peace after a terrorist killed her son in France.
JMB/JRB
Translation: CT
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