Faith unites us rather than dividing us, Pope Francis said Thursday in a video message to the people of the United Arab Emirates ahead of a visit there on February 3-5.
Francis thanked "the friend and dear brother, the great imam of Al-Azhar, doctor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, for helping set up a meeting on the theme of Human Brotherhood.
He said Al-Tayeb and others had shown "courage and will to affirm that the faith in God unites and does not divide, brings people closer while preserving distinction, moves away hostility and aversion". At Mass on Thursday the pope said priests are not functionaries and without joy they should stop their pastoral work.
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