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December 12, 2018
Abu Dhabi: December 12, 2018 The Vatican released the schedule of Pope Francis’ visit to the UAE. This schedule has been most awaited since the announcement of the pontiff’s visit a week ago.
Upon arrival on Sunday, February 3 he will be greeted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces along with key UAE dignitaries at the Abu Dhabi Presidential airport.
On the second day of his three day visit, Pope Francis will visit the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to hold a private meeting with the Muslim Council of Elders. The mosque is named after the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, whose body is also buried there.
Commenting on the itinerary, Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia (UAE, Oman and Yemen) said, “Pope Francis is convinced that every human being who stands honestly before God, no matter to whichever religion he or she belongs, and allows himself or herself to be led by God will work to create an atmosphere where human beings can live together and mutually accept each other. The Late Sheikh Zayed is known to have instilled the virtue of human coexistence in the people of the UAE and it is a happy coincidence that this historic meeting takes place at the Grand Mosque named after His Highness Sheikh Zayed, whose policies have shaped the United Arab Emirates into a country where the values of tolerance and co-existence are upheld so that all can live together in peace and harmony.”
There are nearly a million Catholics in the UAE residing across the country, and Bishop Hinder adds, “The Pope is a realist and knows that in a world of migration, human beings have to learn to live together, whether Christians among Muslims or Muslims among Christians and even both Muslims and Christians among non-believers among other big religions, we have to learn to co-exist.”
“Gestures such as these”, the Bishop added, “which are not made tactically, but specifically driven by the need to work for peace among human beings are so necessary today. Without such gestures and bold steps to create encounters, humanity risks what happened in history, where we speak with arms rather than words.”
“Such steps are elements, stones to build new relationships, a new house, a common home, where human beings have to work together to make the world a common home, where we can all live together in peace and harmony,” the Bishop said. This resonates with ‘Laudato Si’, the second encyclical of Pope Francis and the subtitle of this is “On Care for Our Common Home”. In his phrasing in this letter he is "cautious and undogmatic, and he specifically calls for discussion and dialogue."
http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/12/12/0929/02028.html
Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Francis to the United Arab Emirates (3-5 February 2019) - Program, 12.12.2018
Sunday 3 February 2019
ROME - ABU DHABI
1:00 pm Departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
22:00 Arrival at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
OFFICIAL WELCOME
Monday, 4 February 2019
ABU DHABI
12:00 pm WELCOME CEREMONY at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12:20 OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE CROWN PRINCE in the Presidential Palace
17:00 PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM COUNCIL OF ELDERS in the Grand Mosque of Sheik Zayed
18:10 INTERRELIGIOUS MEETING in the Founder's Memorial
Discourse of the Holy Father
Tuesday 5 February 2019
ABU DHABI - ROME
09:15 VISIT IN PRIVATE TO THE CATHEDRAL
10:30 SANTA MESSA in ZAYED SPORTS CITY - Homily of the Holy Father
12:40 FAREWELL CEREMONY at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1:00 pm Departure by plane to Rome
17:00 Arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
The three day visit will also incorporate an encounter with the catholics of the region, with a Papal Mass on Tuesday, February 5 at 10.30am at Zayed Sports City. More than hundred thousand are expected to attend the Papal Mass and the Church is working with the Government to plan for the event.
Ends
For further media enquiries or clarification contact:
Melanie Antao Fernandes
Head, Media Relations
Office of Communications
Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia
P. O. Box 54
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
M. +971-50-6566876
E: [email protected]
W: www.uaepapalvisit.org