Today, His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, received Mrs. Verónica Alcocer García, the First Lady of Colombia.

His Eminence Prof. Dr. Al-Tayeb warmly welcomed Mrs. Verónica, expressing his deep appreciation for Colombia. He requested that she convey his greetings to President Gustavo Petro, commending the Colombian President’s efforts and repeated calls for peace and the cessation of violence in Gaza. His Eminence affirmed that Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders are committed to spreading the message of Islam as a religion of peace for all people. His Eminence highlighted that Islam places understanding, connection, and compassion at the heart of human relationships, regardless of differences in faith, race, or color. He further explained that diversity is a divine universal law and that bonds of human fraternity should guide relationships both among believers and between believers and non-believers.

He also noted that so-called "religious wars" throughout history were not genuinely religious but were driven by political ideologies seeking to manipulate religion for their own ends. His Eminence outlined Al-Azhar’s proactive initiatives to foster peace and fraternity both in Egypt and globally. These include the establishment of the Egyptian Family House in partnership with Christian churches in Egypt, aimed at strengthening bonds of unity and coexistence between Muslims and Christians. Building on this foundation, Al-Azhar has reached out to religious and cultural institutions worldwide, culminating in the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi with his dear brother Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church. This landmark document, which took a year to draft, was later recognized by the United Nations, designating February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity.

His Eminence stressed that the greatest challenge facing humanity today is the growing disconnection of the body from the spirit, alongside efforts to marginalize religion or exploit it for materialistic gains, particularly in justifying the arms industry. He criticized the production of weapons and explosives, pointing out the wars and conflicts they continue to fuel.

Mrs. Verónica expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to meet His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, praising his efforts to promote global peace. She voiced her belief in the ability of religious leaders to foster peace through dialogue and mutual understanding. She also aligned with his views on the dangers of the arms industry, describing it as a root cause of the world’s tragedies. Mrs. Verónica expressed hope for an end to arms manufacturing as a step toward eliminating poverty, conflict, hatred, and war. She emphasized the need to replace hatred with love and war with peace and underscored the value of the historic Document on Human Fraternity as a model of cooperation among religious leaders—a much-needed example for the world today.