When Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, signed the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019, they sowed the seeds of a more understanding and inclusive world. Their vision, as leading representatives of global Christianity and Islam, aimed to address global economic, social, political, and environmental challenges by endorsing dialogue and collaboration across religious and national divides.
The influence of the Document on Human Fraternity has been far-reaching. The United Nations has officially proclaimed February 4, the day the document was signed, the International Day of Human Fraternity. The document was also endorsed at the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan in 2022, further emphasizing its global significance.
A Platform for Conversations
Inspired by the Document, in spring 2023 the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University, together with the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity and the Muslim Council of Elders, piloted the Human Fraternity Dialogues, a unique platform for students from around the world to engage in meaningful conversations rooted in the principles laid out in the Document.
The Human Fraternity Dialogues itself grew out of a gathering in September 2022, where more than 40 students from 17 nationalities and multiple religious traditions met in Washington, DC, to discuss the Document on Human Fraternity as it relates to the challenge of building more inclusive campus communities. The success of this initiative laid the groundwork for the Human Fraternity Dialogues in 2023.
Engaging Students Across the Globe
The Human Fraternity Dialogues assembled 109 students from around the globe, representing a vibrant spectrum of religious affiliations and cultural backgrounds. Participants brought forward perspectives from Catholic, Muslim, Protestant, Jewish, Yazidi, Hindu, and several other religious traditions. They came from the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, contributing to an online dialogue that was truly global in its scope. Meeting on Zoom, these students discussed the significance of the Document on Human Fraternity for their campus communities, coming together to find ways to increase interreligious solidarity in diverse university environments.
According to Sofia Lanza, an Italian undergraduate student studying at the University of Edinburgh, these dialogues created space for students to “listen and welcome other perspectives from people that read the document with different eyes.”
Throughout the dialogues, students delved into conversations that embodied the core tenets of fraternity, respect, and mutual understanding. Despite the plurality of their backgrounds and beliefs, students found common ground in their shared aspirations for a more harmonious world, a testament to the transformative power of constructive dialogue. Christopher Akongnwi, a graduate student from Cameroon studying at the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue, welcomed this opportunity to cross barriers and build a sense of community.
“[The concept of human fraternity] dissipates inequalities, divisions, and extremisms, and promotes cohesion and dialogue between peoples, religions, and civilizations.”
These dialogues did not shy away from identifying areas where the Document on Human Fraternity could be more effective. Students called for more actionable guidance to enact the values put forth by the Document, emphasized the need for more inclusive language, and suggested a broader interfaith focus. Their earnest criticisms reflected their commitment to the spirit of the Document, as they sought to refine and improve its implementation in real-world situations.
The Human Fraternity Fellows Program
As a follow-up to these dialogues, the Berkley Center, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, and the Muslim Council of Elders are proud to sponsor the Human Fraternity Fellows program during the 2023-2024 academic year. This program is designed to give a select group of students the chance to engage more deeply, both online and in person. The goal of the fellowship is to diagnose obstacles to inclusive campus communities and develop concrete proposals for creating what Pope Francis calls a “culture of encounter” that might be implemented within and across universities around the world. The Human Fraternity Fellows program will culminate with a study tour and in-person dialogue in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.
The dialogues and the fellowship are only the beginning. As participants take the principles learned back to their universities and communities, the seeds sown by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar continue to flourish. Thus, the vision of the Document on Human Fraternity finds expression in a world that is learning to understand, appreciate, and celebrate its vibrant diversity.