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April 27, 2025After the mass celebrated in St Mary's Dubai by Bp Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap. on the day of Pope Francis' funeral for the repose of his soul, a condolences meeting was held in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to the UAE, Arch. Christophe El-Kassis, priests and religious from Dubai and the northern emirates, and representatives of other Christian denominations and religions. ***** Greetings at the condolences meeting after the Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis by Bp Paolo Martinelli
After this evening's homily and after the words of His Excellency Archbishop Christophe El Kassis, let me now remember and honor the memory of Pope Francis first of all with some personal memories. I knew the Holy Father when he was still Cardinal, and Archbishop of Buenos Aires. We were for three years in the council of the Synod of Bishops, him as a member elected by the Synod, and me as a consultant. We saw each other at least three times a year. I was not yet bishop then, so I was wearing the Capuchin Franciscan habit, and every time he met me he said, "how I love Saint Francis of Assisi and how well I work in Buenos Aires with your Capuchin brothers!” He repeated this to me every time.
So, when he was elected Pope, I was in St. Peter's Square because at that time I lived in Rome and I heard that he had chosen Franciscus as the name, I was not surprised. It was a confirmation of what he had always told me in our meetings. Today I must thank him publicly for having called me to the episcopate, first as auxiliary bishop of Milan and three years ago as Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia.
I remember meeting him a few months after my installation as Apostolic Vicar. I went to visit him in the Vatican, in the Apostolic Palace, and naturally I was dressed as a bishop and when he saw me, he exclaimed: “but I was waiting for you dressed as a Capuchin!” I replied: “Your Holiness, I have my Capuchin habit in my bag, if you want in two minutes I will come back here dressed as a Capuchin friar”.
I can truly testify to the love he has for our Apostolic Vicariate and the Arabian peninsula. When I happened to meet him, he always asked me about our land. He always remembered his trip to the UAE in 2019 for the signing of the document on Human Fraternity. When I met him at the synodal assembly in October 2023, he confirmed his decision to come to Dubai for COP 28; he wanted to repeat the message of his encyclical Laudato si’, on the care of creation. As we know, he was unable to do so due to the strong flu he was suffering from, which caught a few days before leaving the trip to Dubai. He has always carried the United Arab Emirates in his heart, in the same way as he recalled, also publicly, another country of our vicariate, Yemen. Even on Sunday, in his Urbi et Orbi message, he recalled it by inviting the parties involved to peace.
Since he has always remembered us, we commit ourselves to remember him in our prayers.
Thank you, Pope Francis for your gesture of Love and care for us and for your words of a man of mercy, of brotherhood and of Peace.
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