VATICAN CITY (Monday,February 10th)- Khaled El Enany, candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO, was received by Pope Francis during a private audienceat the Vatican. 
Their discussion focused on the urgent need to strengthenintercultural dialogue as a means to combat extremism and foster a culture of peace.
At a time of rising global tensions and growing extremism, building bridges between culturesand religions has never been more crucial.
Against this backdrop, Khaled El Enany met withPope Francis for an exchange centered on the role of intercultural dialogue in promotingpeace.
For centuries, interfaith and intercultural dialogue has been a cornerstone of globalunderstanding.
In this context, Pope Francis-the first Latin American pontiff-embodies avision of fraternity and mutual respect that is not merely an ideal but a necessity for buildinga more peaceful and inclusive world.
After the meeting, Khaled El-Enany emphasized UNESCO's vital role in defendingpluralism and fostering respect among cultures:
“Ignorance and division fuel conflict. UNESCO must be the driving force behind a global dialogue grounded in education, culture, science, communication and information.
Pope Francis' message of universal fraternitydeeply resonates with this mission," he stated.
With this shared commitment,Khaled El-Enany reaffirms his dedication to making UNESCO a guardian of humanity's cultural and spiritual heritage while actively promoting peacefulcoexistence through knowledge and mutual respect.