Pope Francis has emphasised the importance of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to address global humanitarian challenges, such as world hunger.
He made the comments during a meeting with the 2025 judging committee at the Vatican. Pope Francis discussed strategies to advance peace and to address human fraternity issues, state news agency Wam reported on Tuesday.
The award was established on February 4, 2019, to mark the meeting in Abu Dhabi between Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb. It allocates $1 million to a person, group or organisation that works to further peaceful co-existence in the world.
As an honorary recipient of the award in 2019, Pope Francis meets annually with the award's judging committee. "There are millions of famished children around the world – children have to go through waste to find food," Pope Francis said. The judging committee includes leaders from diverse sectors and places: Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America are represented.
"Pope Francis is a true hero for peace and human fraternity and his ongoing support for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ... which unites people of all backgrounds and promotes understanding amid the chaos and conflicts of our world," said secretary general and judge Mohamed Abdelsalam.
Cardinal Peter Turkson said the members of the committee were invited to be "apostles of hope" by Pope Francis. The award, he added, provides "a flicker of hope that shows us that peace is on the horizon and that humanity will not be overcome by the shadows of war and injustice".
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, former president of Spain, said they are "seeking to recognise the brave men and women who are pursuing peace at all costs", while Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the WTO, described them as "agents of change".
Patricia Scotland KC, secretary general of the Commonwealth, called Pope Francis a "great inspiration" and said their discussions looked at "how conflict does not have to be the path forward for humanity and that peace is not just a desire but can be a reality".
The judging committee is in Rome to continue its deliberations on the 2025 award, with the winners to be announced during a ceremony in February 2025 in Abu Dhabi.