Khaled El Enany, Egypt’s candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, was received on Monday by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Khaled El Enany alongside Pope Francis © KEA
Khaled El Enany, Egypt’s candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, was received on Monday by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Their meeting centered on the urgent need to strengthen intercultural dialogue as a means to combat extremism and foster a culture of peace.
At a time when global tensions and extremism are on the rise, the necessity of building bridges between cultures and religions has never been more pressing.
In this context, Khaled El Enany’s discussion with Pope Francis highlighted the crucial role of intercultural dialogue in promoting peace and mutual understanding.
Following the meeting, Khaled El Enany reaffirmed UNESCO’s vital mission in defending pluralism and fostering cultural respect worldwide.
"Ignorance and division fuel conflict. UNESCO must be the driving force behind a global dialogue grounded in education, culture, science, communication, and information. Pope Francis’ message of universal fraternity deeply resonates with this mission," he stated.
The Egyptian candidate has already secured support from several countries, including Germany, France, Brazil, Spain, and Turkey.
The elections for the position of UNESCO Director-General are scheduled to take place at the end of 2025.
By Antoine Khoury
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