The visit focused on Al-Azhar’s ongoing efforts in promoting the values of dialogue, fraternity, and peace. The Grand Imam delivered a lecture on the moderation of Islam and the importance of interfaith dialogue. The Grand Imam stressed that today’s youth are entrusted with key responsibilities, including confronting the “senseless wars that are ravaging our world – wars exploited by some nations to increase arms profits, caring only for their interests even at the expense of innocent lives.” “Youth must serve as ambassadors of peace, standing firmly against wars and conflicts,” added the Grand Imam. The Grand Imam emphasized that Al-Azhar is deeply committed to the cause of global peace and exerts every effort to make it a reality for all humanity. “To that end, we have extended our hands in partnership to churches and cultural and religious institutions around the world – including the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, and the Middle East Council of Churches – to build bridges of cooperation,” he added. “I previously visited the World Council of Churches and I met my brother, the late Pope Francis, on numerous occasions and at dialogue conferences. Our joint efforts culminated in signing in 2019 the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which gained wide international recognition.” Prof. Dr Ani Ghazaryan Drissi, coordinator of GETI, conveyed the deep respect of the WCC for Al-Azhar and its historic contribution to global moral and spiritual life. “Under your leadership, Al-Azhar continues to be a force for peace, justice, and human fraternity,” she said. “TheHuman Fraternity Document remains a powerful symbol of hope—showing how religion can serve as a bridge rather than a barrier.” “We are united in our commitment to empower young people as builders of peace and mutual respect,” she said. “Together, we can strengthen collaboration in interfaith education and peacebuilding, helping future generations to transform our societies with compassion and courage.” After the encounter with the Grand Imam, GETI participants had the opportunity to visit the the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism, an organization established by Al-Azhar University to counter extremist ideologies by monitoring, analyzing, and refuting them. They also visited the Al-Azhar Mosque, a historic mosque that has grown into a major center for Sunni Islamic scholarship and home to Al-Azhar University. The in-person session of GETI is being held 12 – 29 October at the Saint Bishoy Monastery in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, alongside the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order. Photo gallery of the encounter with the Grand Imam GETI 2025 photo gallery Learn more about GETI 2025 Grand Imam calls for collaboration against violence and poverty (WCC news release, 6 October 2016) GETI opens with combination of knowledge, spiritual depth, and divine grace (WCC news release, 13 October 2025) As GETI opens, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II to young people: “you are the heartbeat of Christianity” (WCC news release, 13 October 2025) Churches called to remember, resist, and rebuild: GETI plenary reflects on faith amid persecution (WCC news release, 15 October 2025) Ecumenism as a lived experience: GETI study visits transform faith and understanding (WCC feature, 20 October 2025) | 
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