The announcement of Pope Francis’ visit to Abu Dhabi in February 2019 brought about a sense of joy and celebration in the country. His visit served as a sign that the UAE is welcoming and tolerant of all religions.
Pope Francis Hails UAE as a “Model of Co-Existence”
Pope Francis, ahead of his visit to Abu Dhabi, extended his warm greetings to the people of the UAE in a video message released by the Vatican on January 31, 2019.
He began the video, posted in Italian (with English subtitles), with the Islamic greeting “salam alaikum” (peace be upon you all) before saying he was pleased to be visiting the UAE, a “country which strives to be a model for co-existence and human fraternity and a meeting point of different civilisations and cultures.”
He also thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, for inviting him to “take part in a dialogue of religions.” Pope Francis stressed that he was “delighted to be meeting with a people who live out their present and look forward to the future.” He said the UAE was a “country where so many people find a safe place to live and work with freedom that respects differences.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed responded to the warm greetings by welcoming the Pope to the country, saying, “We warmly welcome you, Holy Father, Pope Francis, and look forward to the historic Human Fraternity Meeting between you and His Eminence Dr. Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, in Abu Dhabi. We are hopeful that generations to come will prosper in peace and security.”
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, said it would be “an honor to welcome the Pope to the UAE,” and that the Pope would be visiting a country that had learned the value of tolerance. He said the Vatican and the UAE each “embrace diversity and recognize the special talents of various population elements of the global society.”
The nation was all set to roll the red carpet for the Pope. The papal visit was also significant, as the meeting coincided with the inter-faith conference in Abu Dhabi, attended by more than 600 religious figures from around the world representing various faiths.
Human Fraternity Conference
On the evening of February 3, 2019, a Sunday, under a rainy Emirati sky, Pope Francis landed in the UAE for the first-ever visit by a pontiff to the Arabian Peninsula. The Pope had a historic meeting with Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif on Monday during the second day of the Human Fraternity Conference that kicked off in Abu Dhabi. It was a one-of-a-kind interfaith gathering in the UAE capital that brought together “cultures, faiths and civilizations,” with an aim to foster tolerance and inter-faith dialogue.
The conference addressed three main themes: Principles of Human Fraternity, Common Responsibility to achieving Human Fraternity, and Human Fraternity: Challenges and Opportunities.
“This conference is truly a unique multi-cultural event that builds on tolerance that enables and encourages empathy, compassion, dialogue, understanding and respect. You will constitute in effect a global alliance dedicated to identifying action that will reaffirm values and combat [the] destructive forces of extremism, terrorism, poverty, maladministration, ill-treatment of women, environmental abuse, illiteracy, prejudice and hate, scientific and logical ignorance, lack of sanitation and health care and greedy establishments that oppose the very idea of human fraternity,” added Sheikh Nahyan.
Describing Pope Francis and Grand Imam as “global forces for compassion and peace,” Sheikh Nahyan said that they exemplify the moral force needed to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.
“You leaders have assembled here as an extraordinary diverse international group of brothers and sisters. You represent the difference and diversity that exemplifies humanity,” said Sheikh Nahyan, addressing a gathering of more than 600 religious figures from across the world.
Addressing the multi-faith Human Fraternity meeting on Monday at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, Pope Francis said the world’s great religions must become more assertive in rejecting armed conflict, as he called for renewed efforts to end the “miserable crudeness” of war. He also spoke of the victims of conflict in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Libya.
He warned that “we will either build the future together or there will be no future,” urging members of different faiths and cultures to join an ark of fraternity as one human family to secure peace. The Pope also addressed issues such as safeguarding children from abuse, fake news, and the dangers of materialism.
According to many local news sources, he signed an important agreement with Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, to encourage fraternal relationships between all people, bring an end to conflicts, and help the poorest in society.
Also speaking at the Founder’s Memorial, Dr. Al Tayeb called on Muslims to protect Christian communities in the Middle East and Muslims in the West to integrate into their communities.
“You are part of this nation. [...] You are not minorities,” he said. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed described it as a “document that aims to reinforce the values of tolerance and coexistence.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the UAE was “proud to host the historic meeting of His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Dr. Ahmad Al Tayeb.”
On his last day of visit, the Pope delivered a landmark public mass to an estimated 180,000 Catholics at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in the UAE capital on Tuesday, February 5. Per the figures by many news sources, more than a million Christians live in UAE. The UAE government declared a holiday on Tuesday, for the private sector employees with tickets to the event. All of the nine Catholic parishes (an administrative unit typically having its own church and a priest or pastor) in the UAE were allotted tickets inside and outside Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi. The tickets were distributed with a message written on it: “Make me a channel of your peace.”
The pontiff waved at the enthusiastic crowd carrying yellow Vatican flags and banners as he rode in an open-top Popemobile into Zayed Sports City Stadium, where an altar with a large cross was set up for the unprecedented open-air service.
One young girl from Colombia surprised the Pope and onlookers when she breached security to approach the white Popemobile and deliver a letter to the pontiff. The girl in white shirt and pink pants went under the railings and ran to the Pope to deliver a card she made at home, 13,500 km away.
The girl, named Gabriela, had traveled with her family to Abu Dhabi purposely to see the Pope. A security guard lifted the girl up so the Pope could bless her. A photo of the moment shows the girl in tears as Francis, smiling, touches her head.
The Pope also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for a private meeting with members of the Muslim Council of Elders.
On the flight back to Rome, the Pope shared his experience of the historic meet and said, “I saw a modern country […] it is modern and welcoming of so many people.” Although it was a brief trip, it was long enough for the Pope to form a favorable impression of the UAE.
In commemoration of the historic event, a postage stamp featuring the Grand Imam of Al Azhar and Pope Francis was issued by Emirates Post on February 5, in time with the two-day Human Fraternity Conference in Abu Dhabi.
“We are proud to issue this commemorative stamp as a testimony of this visit and to show our pride in our nation’s experience and long legacy of peaceful coexistence,” said Abdullah Alashram, acting group chief executive of Emirates Post. He added, “We aim to highlight [the] efforts to build bridges of communication and harmony amongst different religions, creeds and races, to promote world peace and tolerance.”
Goodbye, Pope Francis
As an experienced Emirati pilot, Captain Abdulla Obaid is used to flying distinguished guests around the world to destinations far and wide.
On this particular lunchtime flight, the 45-yearold welcomed on board his Boeing 787 Dreamliner one of his most prominent passengers yet: Pope Francis.
In an interview with The National, the proud skipper and also the first Emirati to pilot the pontiff said he was humbled by the enormous privilege.
“I feel special because to my knowledge I will be the first Emirati pilot to fly his Holiness the Pope,” said Captain Obaid. “It makes me proud, excited and also thankful to my company for giving me the opportunity.”
His Holiness arrived in the Emirates on an Alitalia flight late on Sunday evening, but was returning to Italy on the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad.
Inside the Boeing jet, Pope Francis was seated up front, with the rest of his entourage and the many journalists covering his trip seated toward the rear.
“As an Emirati, I’m really happy because it’s the first time he [the Pope] has visited this country and this part of the world,” said Captain Obaid.
“He started with my country, which makes me proud. Our leadership has always encouraged us to be tolerant of other religions and cultures and this visit is a clear message to us all that it is a very peaceful country where everyone can be together.”
He said that this flight’s aircraft was essentially a standard 787 with a few small changes, including the addition of the Vatican logo on the plane’s door and headrests. Etihad, which screened the Pope’s mass in the UAE on board its screens and in its airline lounges worldwide, started preparing for the flight back to Italy a week prior.