Tripoli, North Lebanon. The “Human Fraternity Initiative” is set to start, with the goal to support the engagement in interreligious dialogue of faith-based actors, civil society organizations, and youth, as the way forward to promote common living and enhance cooperation for the common good. This new program features an agenda full activities, which will take place on 28 January and on 4 February 2023. The event draws inspiration from the “Human Fraternity Document on World Peace and Living Together” signed in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sh. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, to mark the 800th anniversary of the historic meeting between St. Francis and the Sultan Al-Malik Al-Kamil.
In particular, on January 28, the “Human Fraternity Initiative” will kick off with an Awareness Session on the concept of “Human Fraternity” for high school students and teachers, undergraduates, and young practitioners, followed by the distribution of necessities and other aid (food, medicines, school material) by the “Human Fraternity Ambassadors”, an interreligious network of practitioners active in the social field in Tripoli and North Lebanon.
On February 4, a working group over 40 religious leaders will gather in a meeting to discuss the “Statement for Human Fraternity in Tripoli and North Lebanon”. Moreover, the celebration of the “International Day of Human Fraternity” proclaimed by the UN General Assembly will be held as the final activity of the program. During the celebration, the “Statement for Human Fraternity in Tripoli and North Lebanon” will be officially launched. The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir of the Notre Dame University-Louaize will perform the opera “Francesco e il Sultano”, promoted by the Custody of the Holy Land, and the St. Francis Convent and the Pro Terra Sancta Association will confer the “Human Fraternity Award” to organizations and figures who are deserving for their engagement in the promotion of interreligious dialogue in Tripoli and North Lebanon.
The Religion & Security Council (RSC) is co-organizing the “Human Fraternity Initiative” together with the St. Francis Convent (El Mina-Tripoli, Custody of the Holy Land), Pro Terra Sancta Association, Italy’s Embassy to Lebanon, Adyan Foundation, Mar Elias School of Carmelite Fathers, Dialogue for Life and Reconciliation (DLR), DLR Sustainable Network for Religious Leaders in Tripoli and the North, De Gasperi Foundation. Partner institutions and entities include: Tripoli Municipality, El Mina Municipality, Italy’s Embassy to Lebanon, Dante Alighieri Society Lebanon, Notre Dame University-Louaize, Middle East Institute for Research and Strategic Studies, Mousawat Association, For Lebanese Youth, Alawite Islamic Charity Association, Maison d’Entraide et de Développement Social. The “Human Fraternity Initiative” has been endorsed by religious authorities in Tripoli, both Sunni, Alawite, and Christian.
Media partners: Noursat Network, Telelumier, Tripoli LBN.
