On his historic visit to the UAE, His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, said that he is visiting the Gulf state “as a brother”.
In a tweet before boarding his flight to the UAE, Pope Francis said: “I am about to leave for the United Arab Emirates. I am visiting that country as a brother, in order to write a page of dialogue together, and to travel paths of peace together. Pray for me!”
I am about to leave for the United Arab Emirates. I am visiting that Country as a brother, in order to write a page of dialogue together, and to travel paths of peace together. Pray for me!
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 3, 2019
Pope Francis finally arrived in the UAE on Sunday, February 3, to begin the Papal Visit following a 9-hour direct plane flight from the Vatican to the UAE.
He was welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE.
The Papal Visit marks 1st visit of a Pope 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’.
