Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, has said that the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity reflects that through respecting each other’s cultures and traditions, “we are called upon to develop Fraternity as a shield against hatred, violence, and injustice”.

His statement aligns with the International Day of Human Fraternity, marked on 4th February, where people all over the world - including world and religious leaders - are celebrating this day. It marks the third anniversary of the signing of the historic Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi on 4th February, 2019.

STATEMENT OF POPE FRANCIS: “Dear brothers and sisters! Allow me first and foremost to greet with affection and esteem the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb with whom I co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, precisely three years ago today in Abu Dhabi. Throughout these years, we marched as brothers with the awareness that by respecting each other’s cultures and traditions, we are called upon to develop fraternity as a shield against hatred, violence, and injustice.

I thank all those who have accompanied us on this path: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his constant commitment in this respect, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for the various initiatives promoted in different parts of the world, and the United Nations General Assembly which, by its December 2020 resolution, made it possible for us to celebrate today the Second International Day of Human Fraternity. I extend my gratitude to all civil and religious institutions that support this noble cause.

Fraternity is one of the fundamental and universal values that should underpin relations between peoples so that disadvantaged people or those who suffer do not feel excluded and forgotten but welcomed and supported as part of this one human family. We are brothers!

By sharing feelings of fraternity, all of us must promote a culture of peace, which encourages sustainable development, tolerance, inclusion, mutual understanding, and solidarity.

We all live under the same sky, regardless of where and how we live, of skin colour, religion, social class, gender, age, health, and economic conditions. We are all different, yet we are all the same, and this pandemic proved it. I repeat once again: alone; we cannot save ourselves! Alone we cannot save ourselves!

WAM