An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed his hope that Pope Francis’ historic visit to the UAE would inspire overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.
“May the papal visit strengthen your faith, inspire you amidst your sacrifices there and enhance your hope in life,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.
Santos also urged OFWs to participate and show their support during the visit and expressed his hopes that the visit would strengthen OFWs’ catholic faith.
“Make the most of it, if possible and if you are allowed, to participate through your chaplaincy for that papal visit,” Santos said.
“Show your Catholic faith and share your goodness to all,” the bishop added.
Fifty four years after the first Catholic church was built in the UAE, the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi is ready to welcome more than 135,000 people from the UAE and overseas to attend the Holy Mass on Tuesday 5th February, a milestone event that both promotes the values of tolerance and co-existence and also signifies the depth of relations between the UAE and the Vatican.
The Papal Mass is the Solemn Pontifical High Mass celebrated by the Pope, and for many of the estimated one-million Catholics living in the UAE, attending the mass is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Joyce, a Filipina, is one of them.
“I finally got the ticket and I feel excited and blessed as I am going to see the Pope for the first time,” she told WAM.
Thousands of OFWs, like Joyce, are also expected to attend the Papal Mass.
