Grand Imam gifts His Holiness Pope Francis painting of a section of the Document on Human Fraternity

Pope Francis gifts Grand Imam with a model olive tree

His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church have exchanged gifts during their recent historic visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain and participation in the ’Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence’.

The Grand Imam and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders presented His Holiness Pope Francis with a painting of a section from the historic Document on Human Fraternity which was co-signed by the two religious symbols in Abu Dhabi in February 2019. The painting features some of the most prominent values within the Document including: dialogue between east and west, peace, spreading tolerance, coexistence, cooperation, fraternity and love. The painting also includes the last sentence within the Document.

The painting is the work of world renowned calligrapher and muralist Diaa Allam, who holds the Guinness record for the longest glow-in-the-dark mural in the world. The painting features royal Arabic calligraphy typically used for official titles as well as Islamic inscriptions, manuscripts and architecture.

For his part, His Holiness Pope Francis gifted the Grand Imam with a model olive tree made of iron and featuring a gold leaf. Known as the ‘Tree of Life’, it carries with it the historic meanings of peace, purity and solace. It was gifted to the Grand Imam as a symbolic wish for a longstanding and prosperous relationship between the pair.

The Grand Imam and Pope Francis had conducted an official meeting during their recent visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain and participation in the ’Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Coexistence’ which came following an official invitation from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The meeting is considered the seventh leg of the ‘Dialogue between East and West’ which was organized by the Muslim Council of Elders and aims to promote global coexistence and peace.