Pope urges efforts towards promoting human fraternity

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

“The day after tomorrow, 4 February, we will celebrated the second International Day of Human Fraternity,” Pope Francis said at the General Audience on Wednesday.

He noted that the anniversary is cause for satisfaction since the nations of the entire world are joining in this celebration, which is “aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue” as advocated in the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.”

The Document on Human Fraternity was signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Muhammad Ahmad al-Tayyib on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi.

'Today is a time of fraternity'

Fraternity, Pope Francis explained, “means reaching out to others, respecting them, and listening to them with an open heart.”

The Holy Father then expressed hope that we will take concrete steps, together with the believers of other religions and people of goodwill “to affirm that today is a time of fraternity, avoiding fueling clashes, divisions, and closures.”

“Let us pray and commit ourselves every day,” he said, “so that we may all live in peace as brothers and sisters.”