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"It was a great emotion to see Pope Francis here in the United Arab Emirates - said President Michele Capasso - and with the Fondazione Mediterraneo we are happy to have been among the historical actors of this process. The 120 thousand Catholics who took part in the first open mass celebrated by a Pope in the Arabian peninsula on Tuesday morning are the clear demonstration of the success of Francis' trip to Abu Dhabi. More than solemn speeches and signatures in front of the flashes of photographers, it is the very presence of Francis in this land that is decisive. If the document on human brotherhood signed at the Founder's memorial really goes down in history, it will be seen over the years. In the document the good intentions are many and ambitious that if put into practice would certainly lead to universal peace. This will not happen and the signatories know it first. But it's something, a step. The developments will be seen in a month and a half, when Francesco will continue the tour in Islam by visiting Morocco ".

Memorable words of Pope Francis:

"Even today, in the name of God, in order to safeguard peace, we need to come together as one family into an ark that can sail the stormy seas of the world: the ark of brotherhood. ... Enemy of the brotherhood is individualism, which translates into the will to affirm oneself and one's group over others. It is a trap that threatens all aspects of life, even the highest and innate prerogative of man, that is, openness to transcendence and religiosity. True religiosity consists in loving God with all our heart and neighbor as ourselves. Religious conduct therefore needs to be continually purified by the recurring temptation to judge other enemies and adversaries. Each creed is called to overcome the gap between friends and enemies, to assume the perspective of Heaven, which embraces men without privileges and discrimination ".

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The International Conference on Fraternity (Global Conference of Human Fraternity) promoted by the Council of Elders, Council of Muslim Wise Men, chaired by Shaykh al-Azhar Ahmad al-Tayyib and founded in Abu Dhabi in 2014, took place in Abu Dhabi from 3 to 4 February 2019.
A delegation from the Fondazione Mediterraneo and the Anna Lindh Italia Federation took part in these days at the historic visit of Pope Francis to the Emirates and to the interreligious meeting "Human Fraternity", to which the pope gave his contribution.
Before the Pope's arrival, 500 religious leaders from all over the world have already gathered, who have discussed in 21 workshops with 60 speakers, of whom 30 are Muslims and 30 are the majority of Christian churches.
European Islamic delegations came from Ukraine, Algeria, Lebanon, Mauritania, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Russia, India, Italy and Pakistan.
The international meeting in Abu Dhabi was opened by high-ranking members of the Islamic world, including Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance of the UAE.
In addition to Orthodox, Oriental and Protestant Christian authorities, the Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Mgr. Miguel Ayuso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former Custos of the Holy Land, the Franciscan friar from Jerusalem Ibrahim Faltas and others.
The chief rabbi of Poland, rav. Michael Schudrich.
Three main themes discussed in the two days of meetings, in turn divided into sub-topics. The first, "Principles of Human Fraternity" has been divided into "Consolidating the notion of citizenship", "Combat extremism", "Promoting dialogue" and "Defending the rights of the oppressed and the persecuted", the second theme, "The main challenges facing the human brotherhood in the world", includes "Lack of human conscience", "Exclusion of religious morality", "Diffusion of individualism and materialism "and" Religious and ethnic fanaticism ".
Finally, the third macro-theme, "Joint responsibility for realizing human fraternity", discusses "Common responsibility for achieving global peace", "Responsibility of international and humanitarian organizations", "Role of educational, cultural and media organizations and institutions in the construction and diffusion of the brotherhood "and de" The role of young people of different religious and cultural backgrounds in achieving these objectives ".
The president Michele Capasso di is said particularly excited:
"The visit of Pope Francis is a dream come true; for 30 years we have been working for interreligious dialogue and today I see many protagonists who took part in Foundation events: from Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Jamal Sanna Al Swaidi, from Ibrahim Faltas to Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from Yahia Pallavicini to many others who believed in this process. I remember the meeting with Cardinal Parolin and a delegation from the United Arab Emirates in June 2014 when we proposed this visit ".

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The President Michele Capasso presented to the students of the first and second secondary school of the Mary Help of Christians Institute of Naples-Vomero the Museum of Peace - MAMT and the World Peace Forum.
The students have shown a preparation on current problems and extraordinary humanity, challenging the new media and social media when they cancel the joy of human relationships.
Welcomed by President Michele Capasso and the Museum staff, they were able to reflect on the themes of peace.

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President Michele Capasso and Senator Giuseppe Lumia took part in a meeting with the students of the first and second level secondary school of the Maria Ausiliatrice Institute of Naples-Vomero for a reflection on migrations, legality and interculturality as a way that leads to peace. Through the meeting with young people the most important issues of this historical moment were addressed.

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