Committee sets out organizational structure and establishes independent mandate
 
The first meeting of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity was recently 
hosted by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican, the headquarters of the 
Roman Catholic Church. The inaugural convening of the Committee brought all 
members of the newly-established, independent body together, galvanized by a 
shared vision of unity and peaceful co-existence.

Pope Hosts Historic Meeting with Higher Committee of Human Fraternity

The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, first announced in August, consists 
of religious, educational, and cultural leaders from across the world who are 
inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living 
Together, signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, 
His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United 
Arab Emirates (UAE) during the Pope's visit in February this year.

The meeting, which was held in Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican City, focused on 
establishing the organizational structure and mandate of the new body, as well 
as endorsing its independence as an advisory committee empowered to progress 
the goal of peaceful coexistence outlined in the Document on Human Fraternity. 

The Pope greeted the members and heads of the secretariat of the Committee and 
presented the members with a copy of the Document on Human Fraternity. He then 
expressed words of gratitude and commended the group as "artisans of 
fraternity", encouraging them to be at the origin of new policies "not only of 
outstretched hands but of open hearts". After being received by the Substitute 
of the Secretariat of State, H.E. Mons. Edgar Peña Parra, the Committee 
returned to Casa Santa Marta to start its work.

During the session, the members appointed the Committee President, H.E. Mons. 
Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ, and the Secretary, Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel 
Salam, as well as the members of the Executive Office, Mons. Yoannis Lahzi 
Gaid, Yasser Hareb, and Sultan Alremeithi. They also worked on the text of the 
Statutes that will regulate the Committee's activity.

The Committee expressed its gratitude to Pope Francis for his welcome and 
thanked the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb for his 
encouraging words. Gratitude was also expressed to H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin 
Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for the support he has offered the 
initiative.

Finally, the Committee set the next meeting on 20 September 2019 in New York, 
when they will come together again for a major celebration of the initiative 
for Human Fraternity.

For more information on The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, please visit 
www.forhumanfraternity.org 

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/996005/Higher_Committee.jpg

Contact: Dana Hussein, press@forhumanfraternity.org, +971-50-853-1916 

Source: The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity