United Arab Emirates prepares to welcome Pope Francis

Source: Vatican Media. UAE Media

Pope Francis will become the first Catholic Pope in history to visit the Arabian Peninsula when he begins his apostolic journey to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, 3 February to participate in an inter religious meeting and to celebrate Mass.

In a video message, the Pope said he is looking forward to visiting the UAE, calling it "a land that seeks to be a model of coexistence, human brotherhood, and encounter between different civilisations and cultures".

In the UAE, the Holy Father said, many people "find a safe place to work and live freely, while respecting diversity.

Pope Francis thanked the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for inviting him to participate in an inter religious meeting on "Human Brotherhood".

He then expressed his gratitude to other UAE Authorities for their "generous hospitality and fraternal welcome."

"I thank my friend and dear brother the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, and all those who aided in the preparation of the meeting, for their courage and desire to affirm that faith in God unites and does not divide," he said.

Pope Francis said faith in God brings people closer despite their differences, and "distances us from hostility and aversion."

The Pope said he looks forward to writing "a new page in the history of relations between religions, confirming that we are brothers and sisters, even though we are different."

Finally, Pope Francis called the UAE "a land of prosperity and peace, a land of sun and harmony, a land of coexistence and encounter." And he invited the people of the United Arab Emirates to pray for him.

In an interview with Vatican News, Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, said Christians in the UAE are looking forward to the visit with joy and enthusiasm.

He said the main reason for the visit was the inter-faith event in which many Muslim representatives from different countries will participate.

The Bishop said he did not know if there would be a site large enough in the UAE to accommodate everyone who wants to go to the Pope's Mass on Tuesday, 5 February, mentioning that "many are also coming from other countries belonging to the Vicariate and the Arab Peninsula."