“I greatly appreciate the work of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, and I urge you as a committee to continue working to resolve issues of human fraternity,” Pope Francis told the jury members.
Pope Francis – an honorary recipient of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity who meets annually with the award’s independent judging committee – exhorted the jury to continue their work in addressing
human fraternity issues.
“There are millions of famished children around the world – children have to go through waste to find food,” His Holiness said.
The 2025 judging committee – overseen by the award’s Secretary-General H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam – features prominent global leaders representing diverse sectors and six countries, namely: H.E. Macky Sall, former president of Senegal; H.E. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Former President of the Government of Spain; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; H.Em. Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences; and The Right Honorable Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Together, their diverse expertise reflects the award’s commitment to advancing global understanding across all sectors including diplomacy, economics, science, peacebuilding, and law.
Reflecting on the significance of the meeting with Pope Francis, H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said: “His Holiness Pope Francis is a true hero for peace and human fraternity and his ongoing support for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity award since its inception – along with His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb – reaffirms the exceptionality of this prize, which unites people of all backgrounds and promotes understanding amid the chaos and conflicts of our world.”
His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson said: “Pope Francis invites us all to be apostles of hope, and the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity shows that every person can be a protagonist of hope and of peace.
The award is a flicker of hope that shows us that peace is on the horizon and that humanity will not be overcome by the shadows of war and injustice.”
H.E. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said: “There have not been so many wars and conflicts since the Second World War. This is not lost on us as a committee of people deeply invested in peace. We need a new strategy for our world and with this edition of the award, we are seeking to recognize the brave men and women in this moment who are pursuing peace at all costs.”
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “It is evident that Pope Francis is deeply and seriously concerned about the state of our world and his support of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity stems from the award serving as a reminder to humanity that there is hope – there are good people in the world spearheading transformative work, who are agents of change.”
The Right Honorable Patricia Scotland KC said: “The meeting with Pope Francis was a great inspiration for us all. We discussed how conflict does not have to be the path forward for humanity and that peace is not just a desire but can be a reality. While we may be experiencing a dark time in our world, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is shining a light on those who are fighting to raise the human spirit.”
H.E. Macky Sall said: “As the committee finalizes our selection for the 2025 honoree(s), we are focused on recognizing those who truly embody the ideals of human fraternity as outlined in the historic Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb. I am proud to be part of this great initiative.”
The judging committee continues their review of nominees for the sixth edition of the award. The chosen recipient(s) will receive a financial prize of USD $1 million and will be honored at an award ceremony in Abu Dhabi in February 2025, which will coincide with the UN-recognized International Day of Human Fraternity.
About Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is an annual independent international award that recognizes people and entities of all backgrounds, from anywhere in the world, who are working selflessly and tirelessly across divides to advance the timeless values of solidarity, integrity, fairness and optimism to create breakthroughs towards peaceful coexistence.
The award was launched in 2019 following the historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during which they co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity. The award is named in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates, renowned for his humanitarianism and dedication to helping people, no matter their background or place in the world.
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