Pope Francis encouraged the members of the jury, who together represent Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, to promote the values ​​of human fraternity through the award or through their special fields.

Pope Francis, one of the recipients of the award, said: “Human brotherhood is important for our contemporary world, especially in light of conflicts and wars in which all parties lose and innocent people pay the price.” The Pope urged the members of the jury to continue to spread the values ​​of human brotherhood in their various fields and specialties.

The members of the jury expressed their gratitude to Pope Francis for promoting the values ​​of human brotherhood, especially the values ​​of solidarity, environmental protection and equality, during his papacy to the Catholic Church.

They praised Pope Francis and Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayeb for their historic meeting in 2019 to sign the historic Human Brotherhood Document, and emphasized the values ​​contained in the Human Brotherhood Document. Compass guides the awardees during the process of selecting them in its 2024 session.

Members of the independent jury are former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, full-time Dean of the Holy See Dicastery for Oriental Churches, His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebecca Greenspan Mayovis, President of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Director-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Former UNESCO and ex-Bulgarian minister Irina Bokova. , and Secretary General of the Sayed Prize for Human Fraternity, Adviser Mohamed Abdel Salam.

Counselor Mohamed Abdel Salam said on behalf of the committee: “We truly appreciate today’s meeting and encouraging dialogue with Pope Francis on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar of the historic Human Brotherhood. Document. This meeting has strengthened our resolve to renew the values ​​of human brotherhood in our collective work or in our special journals.

During their time in Rome, the 2024 Jury will continue to review the nominations to select winners of the award at its 2024 session.

The winner is scheduled to be announced in February to coincide with the International Day of Human Fraternity recognized by the United Nations.

The Saeed Prize for Human Fraternity is an independent annual international award honoring individuals and organizations around the world who have made outstanding contributions to human progress and the promotion of peaceful coexistence.

The award, which includes a cash prize of one million US dollars, was established in 2019 after Pope Francis and Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayeb signed the historic Human Fraternity Document in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. .

Since the award’s inception, humanitarian organizations, activists and leaders from various parts of the world have been honoured, including Pope Francis, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayeb, the United Nations Secretary-General. Nations, António Guterres, counter-terrorism activist Latifa Ben Zayaten and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, the king of the kingdom, Hashemite Jordanian, his wife Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the Haitian Humanitarian Organization for Knowledge and Freedom (FOCAL) and the Sant’Egidio Group, and Kenya Peacemaker Shamsa Abu Bakr Fadel.