Azhar Grand Imam, Pope to Underscore Religious Tolerance in UAE

By: Yassmine ElSayed

CAIRO, Feb. 3 (SEE) - Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb is scheduled to meet with Vatican Pope Francis, who arrived today at the United Arab Emirates, in the first-ever papal visit to the Arabian peninsula, for a trip to highlight coexistence, religious freedom, tolerance and interfaith relations.

The three day-visit of the two religious leaders will see their participation in the Human Fraternity Conference which is being organized today and tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.

In this interfaith dialogue, other religious leaders, scholars, and cultural figures, including representatives of the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh faiths will take part in the deliberations.

The UAE is hosting 600 religious leaders for an inter-faith conference that will also be part of the pope’s itinerary. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

The UAE has declared 2019 the “year of tolerance,” bringing together different religions.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi tweeted his welcome to El-Tayeb and to the pontiff. “We are hopeful that generations to come will prosper in peace and security.”

A page devoted to the Human Fraternity Meeting, the interfaith part of the trip, says that 2,000 students have signed a Zayed Pledge of Tolerance that is part of the precursor events to the arrival of Tayeb and Francis.

Included in the visit is a mass at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City on Tuesday which is expected to attract up to 135,000 people, according to the Vatican.

“I am happy for this occasion the Lord has given me to write on your dear land, a new page in the history of relations between religions,” the pope said last week. He also said, in Arabic, “Peace be with you.” He asserted that faith in these times could draw people closer.