Al-Azhar imam: Pope Francis strengthened Islamic world ties

Egypt's Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning, said Monday that Pope Francis will be remembered for his championing of interfaith dialogue.

Following the pope's death, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, calling Francis "his brother," said he had "strengthened relations with Al-Azhar and the Islamic world, through his visits to numerous Islamic and Arab countries, and through his views demonstrating fairness and humanity, particularly regarding the aggression on Gaza and combating abhorrent Islamophobia".