In a situation that indicates friendship, respect and affection between the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican. A wheelchair, where the Pope began saluting the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, where he met his eminence by rising from his place and heading to the Pope to embrace.
In his speech at the conference, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar affirmed the bonds of friendship between him and Pope Francis, where he said: Despite my disagreement with Pope Francis: religion, race, color, history and homeland, and despite the fact that strict opinions here and there tried to obstruct and still, – sometimes even forbidden – The mere meeting of the Sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Pope of the Catholic Church, but when we met and since the first meeting, with a sincere intention, each of us felt that he had known his owner for several years.. Then hearts met on mutual affection, friendship and sincerity, and God Almighty’s success was great in completing The document of human brotherhood, which came as the first human pact between Christians and Muslims in our modern age; To confirm the theory that Al-Azhar has always believed in and advocated everywhere, which is that every serious and responsible meeting between the symbols of religions will inevitably turn into a lifeline for human civilization when hurricanes of evil try to shake its foundations or uproot it.
Pope Francis salutes the Sheikh of Al-Azhar
The Sheikh of Al-Azhar addresses the Pope of the Vatican to greet him
A warm hug between two friends
The moment the Pope enters the conference hall in his wheelchair