President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace Participates in Beirut Press Conference Launching Human Fraternity Day Celebration
A press conference was held at the Catholic Media Center in Beirut to announce the upcoming Human Fraternity Day celebration, scheduled for Tuesday the 17th of this month at the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut under the theme: “Human Fraternity as the Foundation for a Shared Future.” The conference brought together prominent religious and national figures.
His Excellency Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, took part in the conference alongside Bishop Mounir Khairallah, President of the Episcopal Commission for Media; Bishop Charbel Mourad, President of the Christian–Islamic Dialogue Committee; Father Boutros Azar, Vicar General of the Antonine Maronite Order; and Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm, Director of the Catholic Media Center.
Bishop Khairallah opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and emphasizing that the Document on Human Fraternity represents a landmark global initiative that has laid firm foundations for interreligious dialogue and strengthened the principles of coexistence between Christians and Muslims. For his part, Bishop Mourad stressed that the world today stands at a decisive crossroads—between division and conflict on one hand, and encounter and coexistence on the other.
He affirmed that human fraternity is not a passing slogan, but a moral, spiritual, and civilizational choice rooted in the recognition of human dignity. He noted that when religions remain faithful to their true essence, they become sources of peace and bridges of communication rather than causes of conflict. He also commended the role of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity in the United Arab Emirates in advancing this vision globally.
Father Boutros Azar presented the program of the upcoming celebration, reaffirming the Antonine Order’s commitment to promoting the values of the Human Fraternity Document through its educational, academic, and humanitarian institutions. He noted that the celebration offers an opportunity to renew hope and strengthen a culture of dialogue and cooperation.
In his remarks, Al Jarwan expressed the United Arab Emirates’ deep affection for Lebanon, describing it as a genuine and expansive space for interfaith dialogue, where the spirit of the Human Fraternity Document finds a natural resonance as a living model of coexistence. He affirmed that strengthening a culture of tolerance and dialogue is essential to building a shared future founded on stability and unity, and to upholding the values of human dignity and mutual understanding among peoples.
The press conference also announced the program of the upcoming celebration, which will include an opening address, a documentary screening, and official speeches by His Excellency the President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace; Abbot Joseph Bou Raad, Superior General of the Antonine Maronite Order; Father Dr. Bechara Elia, General Administrator of the Antonine Maronite Order; Professor Father Salim Daccache, President of Saint Joseph University; and Ambassador Khaled Al Ghaith, Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity in the United Arab Emirates. The program will also feature musical and vocal interludes, as well as the presentation of honorary awards.