His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, received in the Vatican City, Al-Azhar Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, to discuss plans of cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Vatican to achieve human fraternity. 

At the beginning of the meeting, Pope Francis welcomed the Grand Imam, expressing his pleasure at this fraternal meeting, and describing their relationship as “sincere brotherhood.” His Holiness expressed his aspiration for more cooperation between the two ancient institutions in enhancing the principles of brotherhood and the culture of coexistence. 

Pope Francis said that the major religious institutions have a great responsibility to promote the principles of goodness and the values of love and peace, adding that the historic Human Fraternity Document comprises within its provisions a guide that leads humanity towards world peace and coexistence. The document is a global reference for all believers in humanity, and an appeal to people with good conscience to reject violence and extremism, stressing that the document was a distant dream, but by the will of God it has become a reality. 

His Eminence the Grand Imam, for his part, said he was glad to meet Pope Francis again, stressing that this meeting was an actual translation of the document into reality and a true call for the adherents of religions around the world to abide by human brotherhood, and reject feelings of hatred and grudge. They should do their best to prepare the world public opinion for the values of brotherhood and coexistence. He pointed out that the Document of Human Brotherhood has become a focus of interest in the Arab and Muslim region. 

The Grand Imam and His Holiness the Pope of the Vatican affirmed their appreciation for the global interest in the Human Fraternity Document, calling for translating this interest into programs, legislation and initiatives that truly contribute to promoting love and brotherhood among people.  The two religious figures expressed their appreciation of the support of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, and of Al-Azhar’s efforts to achieve human brotherhood and tolerance and prompting them as a reality among people. They also expressed their appreciation for the care and support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for the HFD and the global committee, which is entrusted with achieving its goals, overcoming all the confronted difficulties.

At the end of the meeting, His Eminence the Grand Imam thanked His Holiness Pope Francis for honoring Judge Muhammad Abdel Salam, His Eminence’s former Advisor, with the highest honor bestowed by His Holiness, “Commander with Star.”  The Grand Imam considered this honor a tribute to the whole youth of Egypt and a great appreciation for the honorable graduates of Al-Azhar with its approach in promoting tolerance and dialogue.