His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr. Ahmed At-Tayyeb, signed the historic Abu Dhabi Declaration, a document on Human Fraternity in the United Arab Emirates.
The “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” seeks to encourage stronger relationships between people, to promote coexistence among people and to confront extremism and its negative impacts.
The signing ceremony was in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of thr UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
During the ceremony His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid presented the first “Human Fraternity Award – From Dar Zayed” to both Pope Francis and the Grand Imam for their efforts in advocating tolerance, rejection of radical extremism and the pursuit of peace.
In a speech before signing the Abu Dhabi Declaration, Pope Francis said "hatred and violence" in the name of God cannot be justified, praising the value of education in reducing conflict.