Pope Francis praises Zayed award for human fraternity efforts

His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, has expressed his appreciation for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity's judging panel, commending their ongoing work in tackling some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.

In a recent meeting at the Vatican, Pope Francis hosted the judging committee for the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, where they discussed strategies to advance global peace and address critical issues such as world hunger.

Pope Francis, who is an honorary recipient of the Zayed Award, emphasised the urgency of addressing the plight of children suffering from hunger across the globe. "There are millions of famished children around the world – children have to go through waste to find food," His Holiness remarked, underscoring the importance of humanitarian efforts that aim to eradicate hunger and alleviate the suffering of vulnerable populations.

The 2025 judging committee for the Zayed Award is comprised of an esteemed group of international leaders, reflecting the award’s broad impact across various sectors. The committee includes prominent figures such as Macky Sall, former President of Senegal; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former President of the Government of Spain; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences; and Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

The committee's diverse expertise in diplomacy, economics, peacebuilding, and law plays a crucial role in selecting individuals who have made extraordinary contributions toward fostering human fraternity, peace, and global solidarity.

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Zayed Award, highlighted Pope Francis’s continued support for the award, which he has championed alongside His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb. Abdelsalam noted that the award is exceptional in uniting people from all backgrounds, promoting understanding, and addressing the challenges and conflicts of the modern world.

As the judging panel continues to review nominees for the sixth edition of the Zayed Award, the recipient(s) will be honored at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi in February 2025, coinciding with the United Nations-recognised International Day of Human Fraternity.

The winner will receive a financial prize of $1 million, further cementing the award’s global recognition for its role in promoting human dignity, peace, and fraternity.