“Man of Peace”… Grand Imam Praises Pope Francis

Al Azhar Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb spokesperson said Pope Francis is a man of peace and humanity, Vatican Media reported on Friday.

The two religious men discussed at the Vatican, on Monday, the efforts to spread the principles of the Human Fraternity Document worldwide, according to the Grand Imam's office.

During his stay in Rome, the Grand Imam visited the studios of Vatican Radio and spoke about his relationship with Francis.

"From the first minute of our meeting, I had confirmation that he is a man of peace and humanity," he said. "Each one of us has discovered a great spiritual and thoughtful attunement to the crises that afflict contemporary man...".

Moreover, the Grand Imam recounted that "after the election of dear brother Pope Francis, Al-Azhar took the initiative to congratulate him, and we received a beautiful response from Pope Francis.”

He affirmed that the response encouraged them to renew the relationship, and so, he decided to visit the Pope in the Vatican back in May 2016.

“This attunement between the Pope and I,” Al-Tayeb continued, “can offer much to alleviate these crises. From that moment, there was no hesitation. I personally did not hesitate to extend my hand. From the first minute of our meeting, I had confirmation that he is a man of peace and humanity par excellence."

He further asserted that things went well and that in just three years they had had six summits; during the fifth of these summits, they signed the Document on Human Fraternity.