Tomorrow, Friday 4 February, Pope Francis, together with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, will mark the Second International Day of Human Fraternity with a video message during the commemorative event to be held in Dubai: The Human Fraternity and the Global Tolerance Alliance Roundtable.
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue will take part as a speaker in the event, which will occur in the context of Expo Dubai 2020 and was organized jointly by the Ministry for Tolerance and Coexistence of the United Arab Emirates and by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, with the support of the Holy See and Al-Azhar University.
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue invites everyone to join, in whatever way they consider appropriate, in the celebration of the International Day of Human Fraternity, in response to the appeal of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Al-Tayyeb to work together to overcome the challenges faced by humanity, for the sake of promoting, supporting and encouraging communities and individuals throughout the world to be, together, true heralds of unity, solidarity, and fraternity.
Pope Francis promoted the event at yesterday’s General Audience in Paul VI Hall:
“The day after tomorrow, 4 February, we will celebrate the second International Day of Human Brotherhood. It is a reason for satisfaction that the nations of the entire world are joining in this celebration, aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue, as also called for in the Document on Human Brotherhood and for World Peace and Common Coexistence, signed on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Muhammad Aḥmad al-Tayyib, and by myself. Brotherhood means reaching out to others, respecting them, and listening to them with an open heart. I hope that concrete steps will be taken together with the believers of other religions, and also with people of good will, to affirm that today is a time of brotherhood, avoiding fuelling clashes, divisions, and closures. Let us pray and commit ourselves every day so that we can all live in peace, as brothers and sisters.”
