A year ago, the signing of the document on human brotherhood

Last updated: Thu 31 Mar 2022 PM

On 4 February 2019, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar signed the Abu Dhabi Declaration, an invitation to reconciliation and brotherhood. Let us retrace some of the steps taken since then, following this document.

A year has passed since the signing of the historic "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Common Coexistence". The laying of this milestone, which goes beyond the mere relationship between Christianity and Islam, was made on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyib. The text is a compass that points towards the culture of dialogue, common collaboration and mutual knowledge. The document is a call to end wars and condemns the scourges of terrorism and religiously inspired violence in particular. "Faith - the preface states - leads the believer to see in the other a brother to be supported and loved".

"A document reasoned with sincerity and seriousness to be a common declaration of good and loyal will, intended to invite all those who carry in their hearts faith in God and faith in human brotherhood to unite and work together, so that this Document may become a guide for the new generations towards the culture of mutual respect, in the understanding of the great divine grace which makes all human beings brothers and sisters. (Document on Human Fraternity)".

Religions are bridges between peoples

In order to promote the ideals of tolerance and cooperation contained in the Abu Dhabi Declaration, a Committee for the Implementation of the Document on Human Brotherhood, composed of Christian, Muslim and Jewish members, was established on 20 August in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Its task is to develop a framework for the achievement of the document's objectives, prepare the plans necessary for its practical implementation and monitor its application at the regional and international levels, also organizing meetings with religious leaders, leaders of international organizations and other personalities to promote concerted action. The Committee meets for the first time on a symbolic date, 11 September, just one month after its birth, at the Vatican, in Saint Martha's House. Pope Francis addressed words of gratitude and encouragement to the members of the Committee. He exhorted them to be "artisans of fraternity", so that they may be the originators of a new policy, "not only with an outstretched hand, but with an open heart". Then, at the end of the meeting, according to their own faith, everyone prayed for the victims of September 11, 2001 and of all acts of terrorism.

Proposal of the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar

Last December, the members of the Higher Committee for the Implementation of the Objectives contained in the Document on Human Fraternity, headed by Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and by Judge Muhammad Abd al-Salam, met in New York with the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres. They presented him with a message from the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar containing a proposal to declare 4 February as World Day of Human Fraternity. In response, the Secretary of the United Nations expressed his appreciation and availability for this initiative.

Conference in Abu Dhabi one year after the Declaration

In view of the first anniversary of the signing of the Abu Dhabi Document, Cardinal Ayuso Guixot recalled the importance of this Document: "The text of the Declaration is becoming more and more important, even beyond relations between Christians and Muslims". Tomorrow, Tuesday 4 February, in preparation for the event on the "Global Pact for Education", a congress on the Abu Dhabi Document will be held in the United Arab Emirates, as a new opportunity to continue along the path traced out by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

Amedeo Lomonaco - Vatican City

Source: Vatican News