emirates7 - His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, has commended the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity's judging panel for its efforts in addressing global humanitarian challenges.
The Pope made these comments during a meeting at the Vatican, where he met with the judging committee for the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to discuss ways to promote peace and tackle urgent humanitarian issues, such as global hunger.
As an honorary recipient of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Pope Francis meets annually with the award's independent judging committee, encouraging them to continue addressing issues related to human fraternity. "Millions of children around the world are starving – children who scavenge through waste to find food," he remarked.
The 2025 judging committee, led by the award's Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, includes distinguished global leaders from six countries: Macky Sall, former president of Senegal; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former Spanish prime minister; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences; and Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
These experts bring diverse knowledge from diplomacy, economics, science, peacebuilding, and law, reflecting the award's commitment to fostering global understanding.
Judge Abdelsalam praised Pope Francis as a champion of peace and human fraternity, noting his continued support for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity alongside His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb. This partnership highlights the unique nature of the award in uniting people across different backgrounds and promoting understanding in a world filled with conflict.
Cardinal Peter Turkson emphasized that the award is a beacon of hope, showing that peace is achievable and humanity can overcome war and injustice. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero called for a new strategy to address global issues and highlighted the importance of recognizing those who pursue peace at all costs. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala remarked that the award reminds humanity of the hope and transformative work led by those who drive change. Patricia Scotland KC expressed that the meeting with Pope Francis was inspiring, emphasizing that peace is not only a desire but a possible reality.
The judging committee is currently reviewing nominees for the sixth edition of the award, with the winners set to receive a US$1 million prize and be honored at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi in February 2025, coinciding with the UN-recognized International Day of Human Fraternity.
The Pope made these comments during a meeting at the Vatican, where he met with the judging committee for the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to discuss ways to promote peace and tackle urgent humanitarian issues, such as global hunger.
As an honorary recipient of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Pope Francis meets annually with the award's independent judging committee, encouraging them to continue addressing issues related to human fraternity. "Millions of children around the world are starving – children who scavenge through waste to find food," he remarked.
The 2025 judging committee, led by the award's Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, includes distinguished global leaders from six countries: Macky Sall, former president of Senegal; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former Spanish prime minister; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences; and Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
These experts bring diverse knowledge from diplomacy, economics, science, peacebuilding, and law, reflecting the award's commitment to fostering global understanding.
Judge Abdelsalam praised Pope Francis as a champion of peace and human fraternity, noting his continued support for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity alongside His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb. This partnership highlights the unique nature of the award in uniting people across different backgrounds and promoting understanding in a world filled with conflict.
Cardinal Peter Turkson emphasized that the award is a beacon of hope, showing that peace is achievable and humanity can overcome war and injustice. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero called for a new strategy to address global issues and highlighted the importance of recognizing those who pursue peace at all costs. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala remarked that the award reminds humanity of the hope and transformative work led by those who drive change. Patricia Scotland KC expressed that the meeting with Pope Francis was inspiring, emphasizing that peace is not only a desire but a possible reality.
The judging committee is currently reviewing nominees for the sixth edition of the award, with the winners set to receive a US$1 million prize and be honored at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi in February 2025, coinciding with the UN-recognized International Day of Human Fraternity.