Pope Francis arrives in United Arab Emirates

Official logo of Papal journey to UAE

Source: Vatican Media/CW/ICN

Pope Francis arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday evening. After the papal plane touched down in Abu Dhabi, an official delegation welcomed Pope Francis at the Presidential Airport.

The Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates, Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, boarded the papal plane to greet the Pope.

Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan then welcomed Pope Francis as he stepped off the plane and onto Emirati soil.

Children in traditional garb presented the Holy Father with a bouquet of flowers and welcomed him to the UAE in his native Spanish.

Pope Francis then greeted his old friend and ally in his quest to strengthen dialogue between East and West, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb.

The Holy Father's arrival marks the very first time a Pope has set foot on the Arabian Peninsula.

The theme of the historic visit is 'Make me a channel of your peace', and it carries with it an urgent appeal to the region and to the world to pursue values of peaceful coexistence and overcome prejudice and allegiance to divisive ideologies, sects, and political parties.

Like the dove carrying an olive branch on the journey's official logo, Pope Francis sets foot in the Gulf region as a herald of peace with a message of hope for the future of mankind.

The UAE is home to nearly a million Catholics - mostly workers from the Philippines and India.

In a video message on Thursday, Pope Francis said: "Faith in God unites and does not divide. It draws us closer despite differences. It distances us from hostilities and aversion."

He praised the UAE as "a land that is trying to be a model of coexistence . of human brotherhood, and a meeting place among diverse civilisations and cultures."

Tomorrow there will be a welcoming ceremony at the entrance to the presidential palace, followed by an official meeting with the crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in the presidential palace.

In the evening Pope Francis will have a private meeting with members of the Muslim Council of Elders in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and an interreligious meeting at the Founder's Memorial.

On Tuesday, after a private visit to the cathedral, Pope Francis will celebrate an open-air Mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium, More than 100,000 people are expected to attend. The stadium is one of the oldest sporting venues in the UAE. It has been completely refurbished and includes many green state-of-the-art features, including sustainable lighting and air conditioning.