Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets Pope Francis

Exchanging gifts

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Pope Francis at the Vatican today (Thursday) . During the audience they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and develop them in the service of humanitarian causes that promote peace and coexistence between different peoples and regions of the world.

The encounter began with an official welcoming ceremony. Pope Francis congratulated His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyanand and his delegation on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha and conveyed his greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Mohamed expressed great appreciation for the Pope's noble sentiments and generous reception. He conveyed the greetings of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and expressed his appreciation for the Pope's role in working towards peace, love and solidarity between the peoples of the world.

HH Sheikh Mohamed, who was accompanied by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, emphasised the importance of strengthening ties and enhancing dialogue between the UAE and the Vatican as fundamental to addressing the challenges the world faces today. He stressed that today, more than ever, there is a need to build bridges of collaboration and dialogue between different cultures and religions, standing in solidarity against those who promote religious strife, sectarianism, racism and intolerance, thereby threatening the security and stability of the world.

He expressed great appreciation for the role the Vatican has played in enhancing dialogue between civilisations, its humanitarian efforts and its efforts to enhance inter-religious dialogue. He made particular mention of the most recent dialogue between Al-Azhar and the Vatican, which culminated in an announcement to hold a global peace conference and a commitment to working together to combat poverty, extremism and terrorism. He added that such an initiative reinforces the culture of forgiveness, coexistence and confirms that the world stands united against terrorism and extremism. He further emphasised that a dialogue between the world's most prominent religious institutions sends a clear signal of peace to the world.

Pope Francis praised the UAE's efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue and coexistence between different people and cultures of the world. He congratulated the UAE for its ongoing humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives focused on education and healthcare and its role in promoting and supporting sustainable development around the world, through the adoption and deploying of sustainable sources of energy and by supporting countries and communities in need.

He expressed confidence that the meeting with HH Sheikh Mohammed will enhance joint collaboration that will benefit humanity and uphold the values and principles of inter-faith coexistence, tolerance, peace and the empowerment of social and sustainable development.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and the Pope then exchanged gifts. His Highness presented Pope Francis with a photo book of the archeological findings on Sir Bani Yas Island, an island designated as a natural reserve in in 1977 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The book included information on different archeological discoveries on the island, including the landmark historic church and monastery dating back to the 7th and 8th century AD, demonstrating the clear spirit of religious tolerance and coexistence that prevailed in the region historically.

His Highness also presented the Pope with the Carpet of Peace, produced through an initiative launched by Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed. The initiative aims to support women in rural areas of Afghanistan, empowering them with the means to integrate into the workforce within the Afghani culture.

HH Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by members of his official delegation, including Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-Secretary of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Dr Hessa Al Otaiba, UAE Non-Resident Ambassador to the Vatican.

- During his visit to the Vatican His Highness Sheikh Mohamed also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, (on the mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports of the United Arab Emirates and the Vatican.)

Source: WAM/Moran