High-Level Al-Azhar Delegation to Attend Pope Francis' Funeral
Apr 23, 2025
A high-level delegation from Egypt's Al-Azhar, led by Sheikh El-Tayyeb, will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Sheikh El-Tayyeb is expected to offer condolences and participate in the funeral rites.
In a statement on Monday, Sheikh El-Tayyeb expressed profound sadness over the pope's passing, describing him as 'a distinguished humanitarian figure' and 'a dear friend' who devoted his life to serving humanity. Their friendship grew over years of collaboration, highlighted by Pope Francis' historic visit to Egypt in 2017—the first visit by a pope to Al-Azhar.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also mourned the pope's death, calling it 'a profound loss to humanity' and honouring him as 'a voice of peace, love, and compassion.'
The delegation's participation underscores the lasting spirit of the Document on Human Fraternity, signed in 2019 by Sheikh El-Tayyeb and Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi. This agreement laid the groundwork for advancing the values of human fraternity, tolerance, and understanding.
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