Pope Francis will be holding a large public mass at the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi during his visit to the UAE in February 2019.
The mass will take place on February 5 at 10:30 AM and it is expected to draw at least 100,000 Catholics in the UAE.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, first announced on Twitter that the Pope will be visiting the UAE.
RELATED STORY: Sheikh Mohammed confirms Papal visit on February 2019
On Wednesday, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ official itinerary which includes a series of meetings, visits, and other activities.
Pope Francis’ schedule includes a public homily of the Holy Father; a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for a private meeting with the Muslim Council of Elders; a meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE’s Armed Forces, among others.
His full itinerary is as follows:
Sunday, February 3,
1:00 PM – Departure by plane from Rome/Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10:00 PM – Arrival at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Official Welcome
Monday, February 4
12:00 PM – Welcome Ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi
12:20 PM – Official Visit to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in the Presidential Palace
5:00 PM – Private meeting with the members of the Muslim Council of Elders at Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6:10 PM – Inter-religious Meeting at the Founder’s Memorial
Discourse of the Holy Father
Tuesday, February 5
9:15 AM – Visit in private to the Cathedral
10:30 AM – Santa Messa in Zayed Sports City — Homily of the Holy Father
12:40 PM – Farewell Ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1:00 PM – Departure by plane to Rome
5:00 PM – Arrival at the Rome/Ciampino International Airport
Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, commented on Pope Francis’ official visit. Gulf News quoted Bishop Hinder as saying, “Pope Francis is convinced that every human being who stands honestly before God, no matter to whichever religion he or she belongs, and allows himself or herself to be led by God will work to create an atmosphere where human beings can live together and mutually accept each other.”
“The late Sheikh Zayed is known to have instilled the virtue of human coexistence in the people of the UAE and it is a happy coincidence that this historic meeting takes place at the Grand Mosque named after Sheikh Zayed whose policies have shaped the UAE into a country where the values of tolerance and coexistence are upheld so that all can live together in peace and harmony.”
Roman Catholics in the UAE have been experiencing freedom to practice their faith in the country and Pope Francis’ first visit to the Arabian Gulf will build stronger inter-faith relations between the Vatican and the UAE.
Details about tickets and entry for Pope Francis’ visit are still being worked out by the Vatican and the UAE Government.
Photo credit: Martin Schulz on Flickr
