By Santosh Digal
Abu Dhabi: Dec. 10, 2018: Pope Francis’ first ever visit to the Arabian Peninsula is a key to the dialogue between Muslims and Christians, says Bishop Paul Hinder of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.
“We welcome the Pope with open hearts and pray with Saint Francis of Assisi: ‘Make me a channel of your peace!.’ May the visit be an important step in the dialogue between Muslims and Christians and contribute to mutual understanding and peace-making in the Middle East,” Bishop Hinder, whose jurisdiction covers United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen, told Matters India.
On December 6, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis will visit the UAE on February 3-5, 2019.
The visit is an acceptance of an invitation by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE’s Armed Forces to participate in the interfaith meeting about “Human Fraternity”. In addition, the visit is also an answer to the invitation to Pope Francis by the tiny Catholic Church in the UAE.
Welcoming the Pope to EUA, Crown Prince Mohammed said in a tweet that the pontiff “is a symbol of peace, tolerance and the promotion of brotherhood. We look forward to a historic visit, through which we will seek dialogue on the peaceful coexistence among peoples.”
Pope Francis’ latest visit to a predominantly Muslim nation (UAE) is expected to focus on inter-religious peace.
The pontiff has visited Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan and the Palestinian territories and used those trips to call for inter-religious dialogue and to condemn the notion of violence in the name of God.
On hearing the joyous news Bishop Hinder said, “I express my gratitude to the UAE government, which has made this visit possible. I urge the Christian community and our Catholic faithful that we respect and cooperate with the instructions of a special team, which is being put in place for the visit. The team will work closely with the government to ensure this visit goes smoothly and according to plan.”
“The generosity of the UAE government has also been extended in making it possible to celebrate a Mass, which will be on February 5 at a public venue in Abu Dhabi. These are warm and kind gestures that we appreciate and acknowledge,” the prelate said.
The freedom to practice Christianity — or any religion other than Islam — is not always a given in the Gulf and varies from country to country.
In the UAE and Kuwait, Christians may worship in churches and other places with special licences. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, bans the practice of other religions.
The Pope’s visit also marks a first ever visit by a Catholic Pontiff to the Arabian Peninsula. The short visit will be momentous for all and especially for the Bishop of Rome, who is head of the college of all Bishops and the head of the Catholic Church.
The theme that the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia has rolled out to mark this visit is from the opening lines of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. The prayer begins with: “Make me a channel of your peace!”
The theme is taken from the opening words of the Prayer of Peace of Francis of Assisi, the saint whose name the pope took when he was elected in 2013.
A logo to mark the visit has also been unveiled by the Vicariate and this will be used on all official communication leading up to the Pope’s visit, said Melanie Antao Fernandes, director, Media Relations and Office of Communications of Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.