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February 5, 2020Abu Dhabi.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, a year has passed, since the historical moment of the first-ever visit and celebration of a Public mass by a Roman Pontiff in this country. The memories are still so fresh of the joy of celebrating a mass at the Zayed Stadium with the Holy Father in the presence of almost 150,000 faithful.
‘Blessed’, is the word with which the Holy Father began his homily. Surely we are blessed to have witnessed a great moment in human history. We are blessed, that the Vicar of Christ was able to celebrate a mass for so many of the Christian faithful. The visit of Pope Francis, which culminated in the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity at the Founders Memorial and the public mass at Zayed Sports City Stadium was made possible by the wisdom and generosity of the leaders of this great nation, who have a dream and a vision for human fraternity and a tolerant world.
Brothers and sisters, we are also blessed because, in spite of our different nationalities, cultures, languages, rites and backgrounds, our Catholic Faith unites us in a deep way, in fulfilment of the Prayer of our Lord and High Priest Jesus Christ, expressed in the 17 th chapter of the Gospel of John: “That they may all be one”. I feel that the visit of the Holy Father, was a crown for our united Church of Arabia. Let us take care to preserve the precious treasure of being united as one church in the Vicariate, comprised of so many rich and different voices. In his homily at Zayed Sports City Stadium last year, the Holy Father, referring to us said, “You are a choir composed of numerous nations, languages and rites; a diversity that the Holy Spirit loves and wants to harmonise evermore, in order to make a symphony. This joyful polyphony of faith is a witness that you give everyone and that builds up the Church.” Unity is our identity; unity is our beauty and most of all unity is our blessedness.
On this first anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father, we are celebrating a Thanksgiving mass at 7:00 PM this evening at St Joseph’s Cathedral grounds with the faithful of Abu Dhabi. We thank God today for our Holy Father, who everyday tries to build a more human world, a world in which relationships are founded on peace and justice, which can, in turn lead to true fraternity. We pray that God in his grace and mercy bless and protect our Holy Father and give him the strength to carry his mission of leading the Church and being an instrument of peace and charity to the entire world.
We thank God for the wise rulers of this great nation who are ushering in a new wave of acceptance and tolerance in the region. The Catholic Church of Southern Arabia will always remain indebted to the rulers of this nation for bringing Pope Francis to Abu Dhabi and also for the freedom and openness given to the Catholic Church. We pray for His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces and members of the Federal Council of the UAE and the Rulers of the different Emirates, that God may protect them and give them good health, prosperity and wisdom to take this nation to greater heights.
Finally, we pray that each of us, irrespective of our individual identity, strive to create a world marked with true human fraternity and respect for each person as a child of God, that the world will give up arms of destruction and that, instead, we may open our arms to embrace every human as a brother and sister, bringing true freedom and God’s peace in this world.
May God give us the grace to become instruments of peace in this world – with St. Francis of Assisi, let us pray, “Make me a channel of Your peace!”
Given in Abu Dhabi on the first anniversary of the Papal Visit, 5 February, 2020.
Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap.
Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia