Committee implementing goals in
Document on Human Fraternity meet for first time
 |
| The Higher Committee meets for the first time with Pope Francis |
Pope Francis receives the members of the Higher Committee
working to achieve the goals delineated in the Document on Human Fraternity who
met for the first time on Wednesday.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
Eighteen years to the day that the twin towers were attacked
in New York City, the 7 member Higher Committee established for the purpose of
acheiving the goals of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace
and Living Together met together for the first time on Monday. Pope
Francis received them at Casa Santa Marta at 8:30 on Monday morning. The Holy
See Press Office released a statement regarding the meeting, saying that 11
September was chosen "as a sign of the will to build life and fraternity
where others sowed death and destruction". Pope Francis greeted each
Committee member and those heading the Committee's Secretariat, giving each of
them a copy of the Document. His words expressed both gratitude and
encouragement for these "artisans of fraternity". He hopes that they
might be fundamental in initiating policies that not only represent
"outstretched hands" but also "open hearts".
Members of the Committee
Representing the Holy See on this Committee are Bishop
Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ, President of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue, and Msgr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, the Pope's personal
secretary. Representing the University of Al-Azhar are its President, Prof. Dr
Mohamed Husin Abdelaziz Hassan, and Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, Judge and
former Advisor to Grand Imam Al-Tayyib. Representing the United Arab Emirates
are His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi
Culture and Tourism; Yasser Saeed Abdulla Hareb Almuhairi, writer and journalist;
and Sultan Faisal Al Khalifa Alremeithi, Secretary General of the Muslim
Elders.
Work begins
After a visit with the Substitute of the Secretary of State,
Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Committee began its work at Casa Santa Marta.
Work began by appointing the President of the Committee, Bishop Ayuso, the
Secretary, Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, and the members of the Executive
Office: Msgr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, Yasser Saeed Abdulla Hareb Almuhairi and
Sultan Faisal Al Khalifa Alremeithi. They then proceeded to formulate the
Statutes which will govern the Committee's activity.
Concrete steps
The Committee also identified several concrete initiatives
to initiate its activity: a proposal directed to the United Nations that a date
between 3 and 5 February be proclaimed Day of Human Fraternity, and
another proposal to invite representatives of other world religions to
participate on the Committee.
Next meeting
20 September is the date for the Committee's next meeting.
It will take place in New York.
Background
The Document on Human Fraternity for World
Peace and Living Together was signed by Pope Francis and the Grand
Imam of Al-Azhar during a Global Conference on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi on
4 February 2019. A Committee was formed on 19 August by the United Arab
Emirates to implement the Document. At that time, Pope Francis was
"pleased to learn of the initiative" calling it part of the
"hidden sea of goodness that is growing" making it possible to create
a "world of fraternity and peace".
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