Al-Azhar Imam hails Pope Francis as bridge-builder between faiths

Following Pope Francis's death, Egypt's Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, praised the pontiff's commitment to interfaith dialogue, AFP reports. Al-Tayeb highlighted Francis's efforts in strengthening ties between the Vatican and the Islamic world, notably through his visits to Muslim-majority countries and his stances on issues like Islamophobia and the conflict in Gaza. The imam referred to the pope as "his brother," acknowledging his role in fostering mutual respect between religions.