His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders has received a youth delegation from the World Council of Churches. During the meeting, His Eminence emphasized that religions carry a message of love and peace, never serving as a pretext for wars or conflicts while expressing his hope that young people will lead in promoting a culture of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace.
His Eminence highlighted that Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders are deeply committed to fostering global peace through numerous international initiatives, such as the East-West Dialogue which has been pursued in collaboration with various Western religious institutions, including the Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches, the Church of England, and other global religious organizations. These efforts culminated in the signing of the historic Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
The Grand Imam also noted that a key challenge of contemporary civilization is its materialistic nature, which often lacks the ethical values necessary to guide human life. He affirmed that religious institutions worldwide play a crucial role in fostering a culture of peace and promoting values of dialogue, tolerance, and shared coexistence.
For their part, members of the World Council of Churches youth delegation expressed their appreciation for the Grand Imam’s significant efforts in advancing peace and reinforcing values of moderation and balance globally, contributing to a brighter future for humanity.