His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Receives the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, and the Delegation of Researchers
At the End of the Conference on Countering Hate Speech to Promote Human Dignity and Coexistence
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
At the end of the conference dedicated to explore the phenomenon of hate speech and ways to address it, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, accompanied by Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Rifaat Fikry, Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gerges Saleh, Coordinator of the Dialogue, Social Cohesion and Human Dignity Preservation Program at MECC Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, as well as a delegation of researchers from several Arab countries who participated in the conference.
The meeting, taking place in Cairo, marked the culmination of a process of dialogue and research that brought together researchers and specialists to address an issue directly connected to human dignity and the future of societies, as well as their ability to build relationships based on respect, understanding, and living together.
During the meeting, Professor Michel Abs spoke about the conference, highlighting its main objectives and themes, as well as the discussions that took place on hate speech, its various forms and effects, and the need to confront it by promoting a culture of dialogue and strengthening the values of peace and mutual respect.
For his part, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II focused on love as a fundamental principle in confronting hatred and building a society in which people can live together despite their differences.
The meeting underscored the importance of moving beyond merely identifying hate speech toward developing an alternative culture based on respect for human beings, safeguarding their dignity, accepting others, and creating space for differences to become a source of mutual understanding and integration rather than a cause of exclusion and division.
His Holiness the Pope also listened to the questions and contributions of the researchers, and a discussion took place on many issues related to hate speech and living together, reaffirming that listening to others and engaging in dialogue with them are essential elements in confronting a culture of exclusion.
Hence, His Holiness Pope’s emphasis on love carries particular significance in the context of the conference. Confronting hate speech does not stop at rejecting words and practices that undermine human dignity. It also requires building an integrated culture that places human dignity at the foundation of relationships among people.
In this sense, love is not merely a spiritual concept, but a force for building bridges, opening spaces for dialogue, overcoming fear of those who are different, and reaffirming the belief that every human being has a place and a right to live with dignity.
This highlights the significance of the conference, which addressed hate speech not merely as a linguistic or media phenomenon, but as a human and social issue that directly affects people’s ability to live together.
At the end of the meeting, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II presented to the researchers an icon of the Holy Family, in a gesture carrying profound spiritual and humanitarian significance.
The Holy Family, who sought refuge in Egypt and found safety and welcome there, carries a humanitarian of journey, refuge, and protection, as well as the importance of ensuring that every person can find a safe place where their dignity and life are protected.
At the end of a meeting addressing the issue of hatred, the icon conveys a silent yet profound message: that human beings need love just as they need security; that safeguarding human dignity is a shared responsibility; and that living together begins when we see the other as a human being before seeing them as different.
