A kiss that goes around the world



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Pope Francis (left) and the great Egyptian Imam Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, greet each other during an exchange of documents during the meeting of the human fraternity at the Founders Memorial in Abu Dhabi February 4, 2019. Vincenzo Pinto / AFP

Originally published at the Institute of Humanitas Unisinos

Pope Francis began yesterday his historic visit to the United Arab Emirates, with which he became the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula, cradle of Islam. A photo has traveled the world: a kiss between the pope and the Imam Sheikh Ahmed al Tayeb, in a historic gesture of rapprochement between the two religions.

This article is published by Religión Digital, 05-02-2019. Throughout the day, the pope, dressed in immaculate white, and the great Sunni Imam of the Egyptian institute Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb in black, gathered in front of the church. Great Zayed Mosque – one of the largest on the planet.

The two men on Monday condemned any discrimination against religious minorities and called the fraternity on the second day of a historic visit. in the Arabian Peninsula, affected by conflict and inequality.

"I am here as a brother," said the pope when he arrived two nights ago in Abu Dhabi. A statement that has been reproduced by all the UAE press. In the same vein, at a meeting of religious leaders, Francisco yesterday emphasized this concept. "We are brothers."

At the end of the meeting, Francis and Imam Ahmed el Tayeb signed a joint declaration in which they jeopardized the efforts of the two religions to "fight against the violence". extremism ".

] This is a far-reaching speech, since it was delivered in a region where inequalities are still evident and denunciations of religious discrimination are numerous.

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