Professor. Jamal Zaid Al-Kilani, Dean of the Faculty of Sharia at An-Najah National
University and Director of the An-Najah Center for Religious Studies (ANCERS),
participated in a joint religious meeting organized by the Seeds for Development and
Culture Association in Nablus, in partnership with the (Jesur) Bridges Initiative for
Muslim–Christian–Samaritan Coexistence, titled “On the Passing of His Holiness Pope
Francis.” The event honored Pope Francis’s historic support for the Palestinian people
and his commitment to justice, equality, and tolerance.
In his remarks, Prof. Al-Kilani praised Pope Francis’s humility and humanitarian efforts
in addressing poverty and injustice, highlighting his strong moral voice in support of just
causes, especially Palestine. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the role of
religion in promoting human dialogue, a primary mission of An-Najah Center for
Religious Studies.
For his part, Mr. Raed Dabai, Secretary of the Seeds Association, noted that the passing
of the Pope “is not merely the loss of a spiritual leader, but the absence of a voice of
conscience that confronted injustice with the word of truth.” He recalled Francis’s visit to
Bethlehem and his prayer at the separation wall in 2014, describing it as a global symbol
of justice.
The meeting also featured contributions from Sheikh Zuhair Dabai, an Islamic thinker,
who highlighted Pope Francis’s strong moral influence in shaping global public opinion;
and Father Miguel Pérez Jiménez, pastor of St. Justinus Latin Church in Rafidia, who
spoke about the Pope’s virtues and steadfast commitment to peace and justice. Mr. Jabi
Saadeh, Director of the Bible Society in Nablus, emphasized the Pope’s role in
strengthening interfaith dialogue, while Issa Al-Samiri, representative of the Samaritan
community and member of the advisory board of the An-Najah Center for Religious
Studies, described the event as a true reflection of Pope Francis’s vision of human unity
and the values of freedom, justice, and equality. The meeting concluded with participants
expressing hope that Pope Leo XIV will continue his predecessor’s humanitarian legacy,
particularly in supporting just causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause.