Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi begins official visit to Vatican City

Sheikh Mohamed

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrived in Rome today to begin an official visit to the Vatican City where he is due to meet with Pope Francis tomorrow.

Sheikh Mohamed and Pope Francis will discuss ways of further enhancing and developing bilateral ties between the UAE and the Vatican. His Highness and His Holiness will also discuss "joint cooperation efforts for promoting tolerance, dialogue and coexistence, values held by all religions, as means to achieving stability, security and peace in the region and the world."

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi will also meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and a number of other high level officials at the Vatican.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed will also meet with the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, on a working visit to Italy, to discuss ways of developing friendship and cooperation between the two countries as well as a number of issues of common interest.

Sheikh Mohamed is accompanied by a high-level delegation which includes His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary at the Court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, and Hessa Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to Spain and UAE Non-Resident Ambassador to The Vatican.

Source: WAM