Pope Leo XIV has described human fraternity as “an urgent necessity, not a distant ideal,” as the world marked the International Day of Human Fraternity and the seventh anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity.
In his message for the occasion, dated January 22, the Pope urged nations, religious communities, and individuals to move beyond rhetoric and embrace concrete acts of solidarity, compassion, and peace amid growing global conflict and division.
The message coincided with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026, presented in Abu Dhabi on February 4, honouring political leaders, educators, and humanitarian organisations who have embodied fraternity through action.
A Vision Born in Dialogue
The International Day of Human Fraternity commemorates the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together on February 4, 2019, by the late Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyebof Al-Azhar.
That historic text has since become a moral compass for interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding—particularly relevant in Asia, where religious diversity shapes social life and where tensions often coexist with deep traditions of coexistence.
Recalling Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Leo warned that war strikes at humanity’s deepest vocation to fraternity and insisted that peace must never be dismissed as an “outdated utopia.”
“Words Are Not Enough”
A recurring theme of Pope Leo XIV’s early pontificate, the call to action featured prominently in his message.
Fraternity, he said, must be expressed through daily, practical acts of charity. Without concrete commitment, even humanity’s highest ideals risk fading into abstraction.
This emphasis continues the pastoral direction set by Pope Francis, whose teachings closely linked faith, social responsibility, and care for the vulnerable—an approach that resonates with the realities of many Asian Churches, particularly those serving migrants, minorities, and the poor.
Honouring Paths to Peace
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 recognised four recipients whose work reflects diverse efforts to uphold peace and human dignity:
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President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, honoured jointly for the peace agreement signed on August 8, 2025, ending more than three decades of conflict.
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Zarqa Yaftali, an Afghan advocate for girls’ and women’s education.
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Taawon, a Palestinian organisation providing humanitarian and development assistance to over one million people annually.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Aliyev described the past six months of peace as a profound learning experience after decades of war, while Prime Minister Pashinyan stressed that the award ultimately belongs to the peoples of both nations.
An Asian Echo
The recognition of Zarqa Yaftali carried particular resonance for Asia, where access to education—especially for girls—remains uneven in several regions.
Yaftali dedicated the award to Afghan women and girls who continue to demand their right to education, noting that denying women access to learning contradicts Islamic teaching.
Her testimony echoed struggles faced across parts of South and Southeast Asia, where faith-based institutions, including Catholic schools and networks, play a vital role in defending education and human dignity.
The award to Taawon also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, an issue closely followed by many Asian Churches engaged in advocacy, relief work, and solidarity with displaced communities.
Fraternity as a Shared Path
This year’s awards marked the first time recipients from the Caucasus and Afghanistan were honoured, highlighting the global reach of the Zayed Award and its relevance across cultures and regions.
Representing the Holy See at the ceremony was Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, underscoring the Vatican’s ongoing commitment to dialogue between faith, culture, and social responsibility.
Concluding his message, Pope Leo XIV thanked Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Zayed Award Committee for their moral leadership, calling on humanity to see the “other” not as a threat, but as a brother or sister.
For Churches and faith communities across Asia, the Pope’s message stands as a renewed invitation to live human fraternity not merely as a vision—but as a daily mission.
