Pope Leo XIV says "In a time marked by increased conflict and division, we need authentic testimonies of human kindness and charity to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters."
Meeting with the organizers of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed his joy to be with the group “who place their talents, vision and moral convictions at the noble service of human fraternity.” The Zayed Award is an independent and international prize which recognizes individuals or organizations around the world who work to bridge divides and build genuine human, often at personal sacrifice.
ADDRESS OF POPE LEO XIV
TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
THE ZAYED AWARD FOR HUMAN FRATERNITY 2026
Thursday, 11 December 2025
____________________________________
Dear friends,
I am pleased to meet with all of you today. It is always a joy to be among people like yourselves who place their talents, vision and moral convictions at the noble service of human fraternity.
As you are well aware, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity emerged from a pivotal moment in interreligious dialogue: the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This Prize not only embodies the legacy of Sheikh Zayed and these other leaders, it also emphasizes that every human being and every religion is called to promote fraternity. As Pope Francis said, “The various religious traditions, each one drawing from its own spiritual heritage, can make a great contribution in the service of fraternity” (Video Message for the Third International Day of Human Fraternity and the Presentation of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, 4 February 2023).
In a time marked by increased conflict and division, we need authentic testimonies of human kindness and charity to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters. Words are not enough. Indeed, “Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away” (Dilexi Te, 119).
In its own unique way, the Zayed Award honors both institutions and individuals who have taken concrete actions to demonstrate compassion and solidarity, offering tangible examples as to how we can promote human fraternity today. While assuring you of a remembrance in my prayers, I encourage you to persevere in this noble work, trusting that your efforts will continue to bear fruit for the good of the human family. Thank you!
TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
THE ZAYED AWARD FOR HUMAN FRATERNITY 2026
Thursday, 11 December 2025
____________________________________
Dear friends,
I am pleased to meet with all of you today. It is always a joy to be among people like yourselves who place their talents, vision and moral convictions at the noble service of human fraternity.
#PapaLeãoXIV recebeu membros da comissão do Prêmio Zayed para a Fraternidade Humana. Em tempos de divisão, afirmou, palavras não bastam, “precisamos de testemunhas autênticas de bondade humana e caridade, que nos recordem que todos somos irmãos e irmãs” @HumanFraternity pic.twitter.com/aWvk1dPLvI
— Vatican News (@vaticannews_pt) December 11, 2025
As you are well aware, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity emerged from a pivotal moment in interreligious dialogue: the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This Prize not only embodies the legacy of Sheikh Zayed and these other leaders, it also emphasizes that every human being and every religion is called to promote fraternity. As Pope Francis said, “The various religious traditions, each one drawing from its own spiritual heritage, can make a great contribution in the service of fraternity” (Video Message for the Third International Day of Human Fraternity and the Presentation of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, 4 February 2023).
In a time marked by increased conflict and division, we need authentic testimonies of human kindness and charity to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters. Words are not enough. Indeed, “Our love and our deepest convictions need to be continually cultivated, and we do so through our concrete actions. Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away” (Dilexi Te, 119).
In its own unique way, the Zayed Award honors both institutions and individuals who have taken concrete actions to demonstrate compassion and solidarity, offering tangible examples as to how we can promote human fraternity today. While assuring you of a remembrance in my prayers, I encourage you to persevere in this noble work, trusting that your efforts will continue to bear fruit for the good of the human family. Thank you!
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