Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Pope Francis are due to hold talks today (Thursday) tackling efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue and coexistence — values held by all religions — as part of efforts to achieve security, peace and stability in the region and the world.
Shaikh Mohammad arrived in Rome yesterday (Wednesday) on an official visit to Vatican City where he is due to also meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and a number of other officials at the Vatican.
Bishop Paul Hinder, responsible for all Catholics in the UAE, Oman and Yemen, told Gulf News he was happy about the audience of Crown Prince Mohammad with Pope Francis in Rome.
“On one hand it fosters the mutual diplomatic relationship which has been established between the UAE and the Holy See about nine years ago. Beyond that there are common concerns regarding interfaith dialogue, questions of peace and justice in the region, as well as the care for God’s creation as ‘the common house’ of all human beings,” Bishop Hinder said.
Bishop Hinder stressed he was happy about the tolerance and the mutual understanding which reign in the UAE.
He expressed hope that in a future not too far away a papal visit to the UAE can be arranged.
Shaikh Mohammad will also pay a working visit to Italy where he will meet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to discuss ways of developing friendship and cooperation relations between the two countries, and a number of issues of common concern, WAM reported.
The UAE established diplomatic ties with the Holy See in 2007.
The country is home to over 40 churches — substantially more centres of worship than all the other GCC countries combined.
It is estimated that there are over one million Christians in the UAE, most of them guest workers from other countries. The majority of these Christians are Catholics, and there are seven Catholic churches in the country.
Reverend Canon Andrew Thompson of St Andrew’s Anglican church said earlier this year he was privileged to be part of a delegation which met Pope Francis, led by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance.
During a private audience, Pope Francis was formally invited to visit the UAE, and he was informed about the climate of religious tolerance which is cause for celebration among the Christian communities.
“The visit by the Crown Prince to the Vatican consolidates the UAE’s commitment to the value of tolerance. I for one will be encouraged by the prospect of a Papal visit to the Gulf. This will be an unprecedented event which will bring huge encouragement and excitement for the estimated one million Roman Catholics and other Christians who live and work in the UAE,” Reverend Thompson said.
Reverend Thompson said the Papal visit will shine a spotlight on the importance of religious tolerance in today’s world. More importantly, it will highlight the UAE’s radiant example in demonstrating that it is possible for Muslims and Christians to live, work and worship side by side without fear or oppression.
“UAE has taken all practical initiatives that have made the nation an incubator for peace, and the cradle of dialogue, understanding, co-existence and harmony.
“This is demonstrated by the co-existence of more than 200 nationalities who live and work in the UAE in security, peace and prosperity.”
The UAE has launched a number of global initiatives in service to humanity, such as the Hedayah Excellence Centre, a premier international centre for expertise and experience to counter violent extremism by promoting understanding, and other initiatives.
Shaikh Mohammad is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation including Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Ali Bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, Mohammad Mubarak Al Mazroui, Undersecretary at the Court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, and Hessa Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to Spain and UAE Non-Resident Ambassador to the Vatican.
Timeline: UAE - Vatican relations
May 29, 2016
Pope Francis receives a UAE delegation led by Shaikh Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance. Shaikha Lubna delivers 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.
March 26, 2012
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirms the UAE’s keenness to develop friendly relations and further cooperation with other countries. The statement is made by the President as he receives the credentials of new ambassadors from friendly countries, including the Vatican.
May 20, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI receives the credentials of Dr Hessa Abdullah Al Otaiba, the first woman envoy from UAE to the Vatican. This is the first time in history that the Vatican has received a woman as an envoy and representative of her country. The Pope welcomes the appointment of Al Otaiba and expresses his satisfaction with regard to the diplomatic exchange.
October 23, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI receives Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair, Former Speaker of the Federal National Council, at the end of the weekly general audience at the Vatican.
April 15, 2008
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan receives the credentials of 13 ambassadors, including a new envoy from the Vatican. The Vatican envoy conveys to Shaikh Khalifa the greetings of Pope Benedict XVI, who paid tribute to the country’s leadership for its care for cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.
August 8, 2007
The Vatican hails the policy of tolerance and dialogue pursued by the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In a message to the information office of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, says the UAE is reputed for its religious tolerance and keenness to promote dialogue and understanding among cultures and religions.
May 31, 2007
The Vatican and the UAE establish diplomatic relations. The two sides sign a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level with immediate effect. The statement is signed by Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Shamsi, UAE’s Permanent Representative at the UN, and Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Vatican’s Permanent Observer at the UN. The UAE and the Vatican are “desirous of promoting bonds of mutual friendship and of strengthening international cooperation”, the communique says.
March 28, 2004
President His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan receives a letter from Pope John Paul II concerning bilateral relations between the UAE and Vatican. The letter is delivered to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, by Bishop Bernardo Giovanni Gremoli, the Vatican’s representative in the Arabian Peninsula, in the presence of the Italian ambassador.
Compiled by Gulf News Archives
