Pope Francis’s unprecedented three-day
visit to the UAE will not only mark the first official papal trip to the
GCC, but also carry hopes with it of a new era of religious tolerance
in the Gulf.
Bishop Paul Hinder, of the Apostolic Vicariate for Southern Arabia,
based at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, said that there was no
person better placed to deliver the message of peace and mutual
understanding than the 82-year-old pontiff.
“This visit is centered on the ‘human fraternity for inter-religious
dialogue,’ and I would say Pope Francis is truly the right person to
stress this point — to show how it works, to show how to bypass borders
and approach each other without fear,” Hinder told Arab News. “That is
something important and, for this, I would say the pope is
extraordinary.
“He is not afraid to meet people of completely different cultures and faiths.”
Hinder said that he hoped the pope’s visit would give fresh impetus to
the “policy of tolerance,” which he felt some needed to adhere to more
than others.
The pope was invited to the UAE by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,
crown prince of Abu Dhabi, during his visit to the Vatican City in 2016.
The pope’s visit coincides with the UAE’s celebration of the Year of
Tolerance, declared by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
in December last year.
“Tolerance can be something passive, but I think the goal has to be
more, it has to be a mutual understanding and an approach which accepts
the different faiths and mentalities of other human beings,” said
Hinder. The pope had a “unique” way of reading a person’s suffering and
helping them regardless of race, religion, culture or faith, he added.
“He is someone who has a pastoral approach; he doesn’t look at, as I
would say, ‘the book,’ he looks at the person. That gives him an inner
freedom which many others do not have, to have an approach which looks
first at the human being … Pope Francis approaches people as Jesus did.”
The pontiff will make a private visit to St. Joseph’s Cathedral on
Tuesday, the last day of his tour, where he will meet with 300 members
of the congregation, many families with children with special needs, as
well as the sick and elderly.
Hinder will be part of the official delegation appointed to the pope during his stay in the UAE.
More than 1 million Christians live and work in the UAE, most of them
Catholics. While formal relations between the UAE and the Vatican were
established in 2007, Catholics have enjoyed the freedom to worship there
since before the country was formed, with St. Joseph’s Cathedral being
established in 1962.
“The relationship has been good (with the UAE) since the beginning,
since we were first here — and that has developed,” said Hinder. “I
always enjoy the relationship and, as the bishop, I have great respect
for the authorities and their concerns for the church and for me as head
of the Catholic church in the region.
“I have great admiration for the policy of this country regarding
tolerance. I can see the UAE’s interest in showing itself to the world
as a country open to other people and, in a certain sense, as a model of
society that teaches people of different cultures and different faiths
how they can live together in peace and harmony.”
Ahead of the pope arriving in Abu Dhabi, choristers have been busy
rehearsing hymns, organizers have been making last-minute preparations,
and the excitement of the Christian population has reached fever pitch.
Theresa Dorado, 40, from the Philippines, is one of an estimated 135,000
people who will attend a papal Mass at Zayed Sports City on Tuesday.
Speaking outside St. Joseph’s Cathedral, where thousands of Catholics
attend Mass every week, she said: “I got a message by mail saying I had
got a ticket. I was over the moon. I am excited because it will be the
first time that I have seen the pope. It will be a memorable occasion
for Abu Dhabi.”
Filipino Chaberyl Celoso, a nurse with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Co.
(SEHA), has been selected to assist with medical support at the stadium
during the event.
“I am so excited to be involved. This is the first time the GCC has had
someone from the Vatican City here, and it couldn’t be a more
high-ranking individual. The whole community is very excited. I don’t
mind if I get a glimpse of the pope or not. I just want to hear his
voice and what he has to say to the people.”
Ese Aazagbaesuweli, from Nigeria, is also looking forward to the visit.
“It will be an experience of a lifetime. I didn’t manage to get a
ticket, but I will be glued to my TV.
“We are in a Muslim country, and I am so impressed he is coming here, especially now, in the Year of Tolerance.
“We are all the same; Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Buddhists, we
believe in the same thing — peace. And I believe no region teaches
violence, all religions teach peace, and I hope this visit will remind
people of that.”
Myra Esguerra, 50, from the Philippines, was still waiting to hear if
she had managed to get a ticket for the Mass. “Even if I don’t get one, I
will somehow hopefully get to see him (the pope) pass by,” she said.
Vanessa Unigo, who moved from the Philippines four months ago to work as
a nanny in Abu Dhabi, hopes it will be the second time she sees a
sitting pope. Almost 24 years ago, Unigo met Pope John Paul II during
World Youth Day in Manila.
Maria Joshy, 13, from Kerala, in India, will be attending the public
Mass with her family. She said: “I have been to (the Vatican) in Rome
but never seen a pope.”
Friends Baltazar Dano and Sedfreygian Fernandez, also from the
Philippines, are hoping to catch a glimpse of the pontiff. “We are very
happy because it is the first time he has visited here,” said Dano.
“Around the UAE, all Catholics are excited.”
Pope memorabilia, including T-shirts and baseball caps, has been selling fast at stalls outside St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
The congregation, led by Father Gandolf Wild, were told to pray for the
“safe and successful” visit of the pope. “The pope’s visit will launch
this Year of Tolerance, and there will be many other initiatives to
spread the spirit of tolerance … and the inclusion of all regardless of
health and ability,” said Wild.
“We encourage all to work together in peace and harmony and we know that
Pope Francis has the ability to reach out to people and touch their
hearts.”
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