Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, delivered a keynote speech on Thursday in the Vatican, as part of the global interfaith conference on Promoting Digital Child Dignity- from Concept to Action (2017-2019) , held in the presence of His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church and His Eminence Dr. Ahmad el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif.

Sheikh Saif conveyed to the audience the heartiest greetings of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; and the people and government of the UAE.

His Highness expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to take part in such an important event and for Pope Francis’ invitation. The people of the UAE have welcomed His Holiness Pope Francis with joy and happiness last February during his landmark historical visit to the UAE, the first to the region, to an Arab and Muslim country that diligently endeavors to foster peaceful coexistence, and spread tolerance and love, he said.

His Highness late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, has instilled the core values of interfaith tolerance and coexistence in the UAE and his visit to the Vatican in 1951 has laid the foundations for the development of common bridges among different cultures, religions and civilizations; an approach echoed and followed by the wise leadership, in its efforts to make the UAE a global beacon of tolerance, added Sheikh Saif. He also indicated that different religious communities are a source of strength and complementarity, especially when led by wise advocates of good, peace and love. As such, the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities is equally as important as any other global security, economic and military alliances.

The growing sexual exploitation and abuse of children globally has become a particular source of concern for the future of humanity. It is an unethical and harmful issue that goes against any religious and moral value system. However, we still have high hopes that, by joining forces with global institutions and digital technology companies, we will be able to protect and maintain children’s dignity globally, he continued.

Sheikh Saif stressed that What unites us as believers is far greater than what divides us. All religious denominations around the world condemn evil and call for cooperation, good deeds and respect for life.

Sheikh Saif praised His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, for their historic achievement, by signing the joint Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together’ in Abu Dhabi, which is set to become a global reference for reconciliation and fraternity among all believers and among all people of goodwill.’