Interpreting the Papal-Grand Imam Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity
In February this year, Pope Francis undertook a historic visit to the UAE, where close to one million Catholics live and work. The Pope signed a joint declaration of goodwill with Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb, one of the most important Islamic leaders in the world. Al-Tayyeb is Shaykh al-Azhar and thus the Grand Imam who heads the al-Azhar institution, which is influential in both religion and scholarship.
Between Ahmad al-Tayyeb and Pope Francis, a friendly relationship has begun and grown ever since the visit of the Grand Imam to the Vatican on May 23, 2016 and the papal visit to Cairo on April 28-29, 2017.
The Papal-Grand Imam declaration is the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity that calls for a commentary from both a Catholic theological and Islamic studies point of view.
La Civiltà Cattolica interprets the Abu Dhabi Document and finds that religious diversity has a healing role in the history of salvation.
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