Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Religions for Peace World Council Member, is the First Muslim to ever present a papal encyclical; Expresses praises for ‘Fratelli Tutti’

At the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, on Saturday 3 October, His Holiness Pope Francis signed the encyclical, calling for unity, fraternity, and love in light of the world’s growing divisions.

Upon the invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis, Secretary General of the Higher Committee of Humanitarian Fraternity (HCHF), H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, became the first Muslim ever to present a papal encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti.”

He has delivered a speech during the event which is being held today in Aula Paolo VI in Vatican City to mark the occasion, in the presence of numerous religious leaders and international media representatives, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Prime Minister and Secretary of State in Vatican, Cardinal Miguel Ayuso, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Prof. Anna Rowlands, Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice, and Prof. Andrea Riccardi, Founder of Sant’Egidio Community, Professor of Contemporary History.

It is necessary to mention that the new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti (Bothers All), is an extension of the “Document on Human Fraternity” which was co-signed by His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, on 4 February 2019.

Read his full statement, and listen to his remarks in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.