VATICAN CITY:

Pope Francis plans to visit the United Arab Emirates in February to make a strong push for Christian-Muslim dialogue and peace in the region, the Vatican said Thursday.

The Feb 3-5 trip to Abu Dhabi centers around an interfaith meeting. Francis, though, will also have the chance to meet with the region’s leadership as well as the UAE’s Catholic community, which is unique in that it is made up almost exclusively of foreign workers. (AP)