Bishop Hinder: Pope’s visit
to UAE an opportunity for dialogue and peace
The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paul Hinder,
comments on the announcement of Pope Francis’ historic apostolic journey to the
United Arab Emirates next February.
By Vatican News
Pope Francis will be in Abu Dhabi for a two-day apostolic
journey to the United Arab Emirates from 3 to 5 February next
year, becoming the first Pope ever to visit the Arabian Peninsula. The visit is
taking place within the context of the “International Interfaith
Meeting on Human Fraternity”, and is the result of combined invitations
from the Catholic Church in the UAE and the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Make me an instrument of your peace
In an open letter, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia
(UAE, Oman, and Yemen), Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap, comments on the
announcement of the papal visit.
“We welcome Pope Francis with open hearts”, he writes, and
we pray with the words of St Francis of Assisi, which have been chosen as the
theme of the visit: “Make me an instrument of your peace”.
An opportunity for dialogue
Bishop Hinder’s letter continues by expressing the hope that
the Pope’s visit will be “an important step in the dialogue between Muslims and
Christians and contribute to mutual understanding and peace-making in the
region of the Middle East”.
He says he wishes the visit may be “a moment of deepening
our faith and our adherence to the Bishop of Rome” and asks for prayers that it
may be “a spiritual event”.
Organization and collaboration
The Apostolic Vicar thanks the authorities of the United
Arab Emirates “for their generosity” in making the visit possible, and for
providing a venue for the Pope to celebrate Mass on February 5th.
The official website will soon be online with organizational
instructions, program details, and information updates, at www.uaepapalvisit.org
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