His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, has arrived in the UAE and his first official visit to the country has begun.
The Papal Visit marks first visit of the head of Catholic Church to the MENA region. Themed ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’, the visit is a positive response of the pontiff and the Vatican to the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE.
In line with the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’ the visit is part of the celebrations of the ‘International Interfaith Meeting on Human Fraternity’.
Ever since Pope Francis has arrived in the UAE, he has already been greeted and welcomed by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, together with the UAE’s cabinet ministers.
Pope Francis was also welcomed by young Emirati children who greeted him in native Spanish. The Pontiff also greeted His Eminence Dr Ahmad At-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif.
He has also attended an official Welcome Ceremony at the Presidential Palace, followed by an official visit to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at the same venue.
Take a look at some of the highlights so far.
#video| #Mohamed_bin_Zayed: We are honoured to welcome our state guests,#PopeFrancis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif.The flourishing of love, tolerance is a tribute to this blessed land and Sheikh Zayed’s vision of the UAE as an oasis of human coexistence pic.twitter.com/qXESNtNZXN
— WAM News / English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) February 3, 2019
