Conference by Isabel Capeloa Gil at the celebration of the seventh anniversary of the Declaration on Human Fraternity

On 3 February, the Subcommittee for Interreligious Dialogue of the Episcopal Commission for Mission and New Evangelisation of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) held an afternoon of reflection in Coimbra, marking the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. 

The meeting, which took place at the Convent of St. Francis, brought together several prominent voices in interreligious and cultural dialogue. Among the speakers was Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, who shared a presentation focused on the importance of the document and its principles for the ethical and social challenges of the present. 

In addition to the President, the programme was attended by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Adnane Mokrani, Professor of Islamic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. The final comments on the event were made by Pedro Vaz Patto, President of the National Justice and Peace Commission. 

The Abu Dhabi Declaration, signed on 4 February 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, is a milestone in interreligious dialogue that promotes fraternity, the rejection of extremism, and peaceful coexistence between different religious traditions. 

The event reinforced the urgency of continuing to promote spaces for joint reflection between different cultures and beliefs, highlighting the role of academic institutions, such as the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in promoting the values of fraternity, dialogue, and peace. 

Photo caption: Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb – Abu Dhabi, 4 February 2019

 

Related News

The President UNISERVITATE Aprendizagem-Serviço
Universidade Católica's Service-Learning Projects presented at the Uniservitate international symposium
President of UCP, Isabel Capeloa Gil, presented the results, lessons learned, and challenges of this methodology, which contributes to ‘shaping a culture of purpose, compassion, and social engagement that will define the future of our university and higher education in general.’ Find out more here.

Mon, 10/11/2025

The President
Dean of PUC-Rio visits Universidade Católica Portuguesa before presenting his book “Por uma poética da Criatividade" at Brotéria, in Lisbon
The Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Fr. Anderson Pedroso, SJ, visited the Portuguese Catholic University, where he was received by the Rector, Isabel Capeloa Gil. The meeting reinforced the ties of academic and institutional cooperation between the two Catholic universities. The visit preceded the launch of the book "Towards a Poetics of Creativity. The Concept of Art in Vilém Flusser," which will take place on 3 November at Brotéria in Lisbon.

Fri, 24/10/2025

The President SACRU
SACRU Autumn School debates “Freedom of academic research” in Rome
The event was part of the Jubilee of the Educational World and was attended by the president of Católica and president of the global alliance, Isabel Capeloa Gil. It brought together doctoral students, academics, and researchers from the nine SACRU universities.

Tue, 28/10/2025