Vatican: Pope Francis received last Sunday a UAE delegation led by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance.
Shaikha Lubna delivered an invitation to Pope Francis from President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit the UAE, highlighting the country’s interfaith tolerance and the common human values that combine all people based on coexistence.
Shaikha Lubna emphasised the pivotal role of the UAE in sowing the seeds of love, tolerance and cooperation among its people under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
She pointed out that the UAE has already taken all measures needed to make it a land of peace, dialogue and peaceful coexistence, citing the existence of more than 200 nationalities who live in peace and prosperity.
Shaikha Lubna reaffirmed the keenness of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to enshrine the values of tolerance and dialogue through launching international initiatives aimed at serving humanity, including the first-ever international centre to counter violent extremism, among other initiatives.
Shaikha Lubna expressed her satisfaction at the recent visit of Shaikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque, to the Vatican on May 23 where he discussed with the Pope ways to enhance dialogue between both sides.
During her visit, Shaikha Lubna attended the Global Citizenship Programme, which is backed by the Pope.
The UAE delegation included Dr Hessa Abdullah Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to Spain; Dr Farouk Hamada, the religious adviser at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Andrew Thompson, senior pastor at St. Andrew’s Church, Abu Dhabi; as well as other senior officials.
