Pope Francis. File photo

His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church on Monday welcomed the UAE's committee which aims to spread the principles of tolerance and cooperation. He also thanked the UAE "for the concrete commitment shown on behalf of human fraternity".

Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed El Tayyeb, signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together in Abu Dhabi in February 2019. Now, that document has led the UAE to set up a high committee to spread the principles of tolerance and cooperation, especially through education.

Pope Francis also expressed hope that similar initiatives may spring up in other parts of the world.

"Although sadly evil, hatred, and division often make news, there is a hidden sea of goodness that is growing and leads us to hope in dialogue, reciprocal knowledge and the possibility of building - together with the followers of other religions and all men and women of good will - a world of fraternity and peace."

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced the Holy Father’s appreciation and remarks in a press statement.

Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is a member of the UAE committee.

In an interview with Vatican Radio’s Alessando Gisotti, Bishop Ayuso, said that the initiative is "very important" and that it will help educators get to the heart of the Document on Human Fraternity.

"The opportunity to educate ourselves and others in a culture of encounter, fraternity, and peace means finding the will to redesign the academic and educational programmes offered by Institutes and universities."

Bishop Ayuso said such a rethink of schooling in this context "demands that institutions take care to study, reflect, and present the content of the Document at all levels."

WAM