Pope Leo XIV’s message on occasion of Zayed Award

Pope Leo XIV issued a message on the occasion of the World Day of Human Fraternity and the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

Speaking about Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and other laureates, the pontiff described them as “sowers of hope in a world that too often builds walls instead of bridges.”

“By choosing the demanding path of solidarity over the easy path of indifference, they have demonstrated that even the most deep-seated divisions can be healed through concrete action. Their work bears witness to the conviction that the light of fraternity can prevail over the darkness of fratricide,” the Pope emphasized.

Yesterday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the Zayed Award in Abu Dhabi, an honor that recognizes contributions to peaceful coexistence and solidarity.