Overview
- Pope Leo XIV told the Zayed Award commission at the Vatican that words are insufficient and pressed for concrete steps to advance human fraternity.
- The award traces its roots to the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, with support from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and operates as an independent international prize.
- UNICEF chief Catherine Russell and former European Council president Charles Michel serve on the judging panel and recently met both the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
- Organizers report a record pool for the 2026 edition, with more than 350 nominees from over 75 countries under active review.
- Judges emphasize backing tangible, on-the-ground projects that bridge faiths and cultures, with particular attention to protecting children, and plan to announce honoree(s) in February 2026.