Egypt's Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Hamas praise late Pope Francis for Gaza support and opposition to Islamophobia

The Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, has mourned the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

Al-Tayeb described Pope Francis as his "brother in humanity", praising his moral stance against Israel's war on Gaza and his opposition to Islamophobia.

"Pope Francis was a distinguished human symbol who spared no effort in serving the mission of humanity," noting that Francis had devoted his life to "supporting the causes of the weak and promoting dialogue between different religions and cultures," the Grand Imam said in a statement.

He recalled the development of relations between Al-Azhar and the Vatican during Pope Francis’s tenure, including the Pope’s participation in Al-Azhar’s World Conference for Peace in 2017 and the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019.

Al-Azhar, based in Cairo, is the leading centre of Islamic scholarship in the Sunni Muslim world.

Al-Tayeb extended his "sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the followers of the Catholic Church around the world, and to the family of the late Pope Francis", wishing them "patience and comfort".

Meanwhile, Hamas also offered its condolences to the Catholic Church and to Christians worldwide following the Pope’s death. In a statement, Hamas expressed its "deepest condolences and sincerest sympathy to the Catholic Church around the world, and to all Christians, on the passing of Pope Francis, the Pope of the Vatican, who died after a lifetime dedicated to serving human and religious values".

The movement praised Pope Francis’s "promotion of interfaith dialogue, call for understanding and peace among peoples, and rejection of hatred and racism".

"Pope Francis on more than one occasion expressed his rejection of aggression and wars across the world and was among the prominent religious voices that condemned the war crimes and genocide committed against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," it added.

Hamas highlighted his "moral and humanitarian stances" and called for "continuing joint efforts among the followers of divine messages and living consciences to confront injustice and colonialism, and to support the causes of justice, freedom, and the rights of oppressed peoples".

Pope Francis had recognised the State of Palestine, allowed its flag to be raised at the Vatican, and visited Bethlehem, where he prayed at the Church of the Nativity and stopped at Israel’s separation wall to pray for peace.

In his final public address, Pope Francis described the war on Gaza as bringing "death and destruction" and causing a "horrific and shameful" humanitarian situation. He urged for a ceasefire and for aid to be delivered to the "Palestinian people who are starving and yearning for a future of peace".