Pope and Grand Imam meet in Abu Dhabi for Conference of Human Fraternity.

Pope and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar meet in Abu Dhabi as 700 religious leaders gather for Conference of Human Fraternity

"...The interfaith events of the Conference of Human Fraternity coincide with the pope’s visit. Pope Francis arrived Sunday night and has already met with guides, including Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar. The Tayeb-Francis meeting is considered a high point of the tolerance events. Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, welcomed the pope and the Grand Imam.

“The flourishing of love, tolerance and harmony instilled in this good land,” he tweeted. He says that the UAE is becoming an oasis of tolerance that “serves the good of all mankind.” The UAE has declared 2019 the year of tolerance. The UAE says that 700 leaders from more than 12 religions are taking part.

Schneier, who has played a formative role in outreach to the Gulf, has praised the event. In a tweet, he wrote that it was an honor to be in Abu Dhabi and to represent Jewish communities in the Gulf during the historic visit: “A new era for interfaith relations.” In comments at The Financial Times, he said that there is a shift in the Gulf to develop Jewish communities as state engage in more interfaith activity."

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