CAIRO, April 22 – The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, His Eminence Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, has expressed deep sorrow on the passing of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, calling him a “distinguished humanitarian and dear friend”, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
In a statement, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb praised the Pope for his unwavering dedication to humanity, describing him as a figure who “dedicated his life to serving humanity, advocating for the oppressed, refugees, and the marginalised.”
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar also highlighted the Pope’s commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding among different cultures and religions.
He acknowledged the significant development in relations between the Vatican and Al-Azhar under Pope Francis’s leadership.
A landmark moment in this collaboration came in 2017 when the Pope participated in the Al-Azhar International Peace Conference, followed by the signing of the historic “Document on Human Fraternity” in 2019.
