Abu Dhabi: Abraham Family House opens

In the center there is a church dedicated to Pope Francis; a mosque dedicated to Ahmed Tayeb; and a synagogue dedicated to Moses Maimonides (1138-1204), a medieval rabbinical authority . Following the inauguration, Islamic prayers are held on Friday, the Jewish Sabbath is celebrated on Saturday and Catholic Mass is celebrated on Sunday.

Located on Saadiyat Island, the residence was originally due to open in 2022, but construction took longer than expected. The House of the Abrahamic Family originates from the “Document of Human Fraternity” signed by Pope Francis and Al-Azhar Imam Ahmed Tayeb, which aims to promote the coexistence of peoples of all countries and combat extremism.

The structure is the work of Sir David Adjaye and is intended to foster unity and encounter while preserving the unique characteristics of each of the three religions and their common lineage from Abraham.

The activities of the House of Representatives are overseen by the High Council of the Fraternity of Man, which was first committed to this structure. Asked by The Times of Israel, the committee’s Jewish representative, Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, a senior member of the Washington Jewish Convention, spoke of the need for those who “believe in the power of faith and humanity “For people, this is an “important opportunity”.

From Abu Dhabi to Assisi

In the Corrispondenza romana, November 20, 2019, historian Cristina Siccardi demonstrates the deep roots of the current crisis when she tackles the Abraham family home project: “We must not think that interfaith castles are Original and avant-garde ideas of Pope Francis’ Pope.

“It comes from the ‘Spirit of Assisi’ in 1986 – it was not, it is not, and it will never be the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi, when John Paul II called together the representatives of all the most important religions in the world, In human brotherhood, pray for world peace.”

“But this ‘Spirit of Assisi’ was rooted in the Second Vatican Council, as documented our time (October 28, 1965), opening interreligious dialogue and nullifying the Church’s educational mission to condemn religious errors: “The Catholic Church rejects anything true and sacred in these religions.”

“She viewed with sincere respect those ways and ways of life, those precepts and teachings, which, though in many respects different from those she held and articulated, often reflected the light of truth that enlightens all” (NA, 2) .

“Liberalism has led the Church of Man towards religious freedom; religious freedom leads to universalism and interreligious goodwill, clouding the problem according to secular standards: no religion possesses truth, but all are bearers of plural truths which Together with human brotherhood, can lead to world peace.”

“Today’s ‘Spirit of Assisi’ created the House of Abraham, but this ‘Spirit of Abu Dhabi’ has the virtue of drawing a line between those who choose to belong entirely to the living Christ, the humanity of Christ and His humanity is the true and eternal Divinity, and those who choose God (whether religious or secular) are liars, diabolical and unreal.”