Pope congratulates Zayed Award winners, praises human fraternity

By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis released a video message on Monday which was viewed by attendees at the 2024 award ceremony of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi.

This year’s prize marks the fifth anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which he signed in 2019 with Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

In the video message, the Pope greeted the Grand Imam and praised the four recipients for their efforts to promote solidarity in favour of the development of humanity.

The Zayed Award recipients are Sister Nelly León Correa, a Chilean nun working with prisoners; Sir Magdi Yacoub, an Egyptian cardiothoracic surgeon; and, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, two leading Indonesian Islamic organizations.

“I offer them my thanks,” said Pope Francis, “and I trust that their example will encourage others to undertake initiatives arising from fruitful cooperation between people of different religions that serve our whole human family, respect the dignity of each, and promote the values proposed by the Document on Human Fraternity.”

Pope Francis called human fraternity a means to overcome hatred and injustice.

“During these years, we have journeyed as brothers and sisters,” he said, “mindful that while respecting our different cultures and traditions, we must build fraternity in order to overcome hatred, violence, and injustice.”

The Pope concluded his brief video message with an invitation. "Continue to spread the seeds of hope."