UAE and Vatican working to promote peace, tolerance
dubai — The UAE and the Vatican are working together to promote peace, security, stability and understanding, according to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Shaikh Mohammed’s comments came during a meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Thursday, in which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and promote efforts for peace and security around the world.
“We are working together on promoting and enabling, in order for peace and stability to prevail throughout the world,” Shaikh Mohammed said, noting that the UAE appreciates the efforts made by the Pope to combat intolerance and poverty and promote dialogue.
Shaikh Mohammed said that the recent rise in militancy and extremism the world has witnessed is partly because of a lack of a culture of dialogue and acceptance for others, which requires strong cooperation among all countries and regional, international and UN organisations.
Pope Francis, on his part, praised the UAE’s efforts to promote coexistence between different cultures, as well as for its ongoing humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives focused on education, healthcare and sustainable development, as well as its adoption of sustainable energy sources.
Back in the UAE, Shaikh Mohammed’s visit to the Vatican was well received by Christians and Muslims alike.
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Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Thursday discussed with Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, ways to strengthen bilateral relations and develop them for humanitarian causes.
The discussions came during the official meeting between Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Pope Francis at Vatican City, following an official welcoming ceremony.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed emphasised the importance of strengthening ties and enhancing dialogue between the UAE and the Vatican as fundamental to addressing the challenges the world faces. He stressed on the need to build bridges of collaboration and dialogue among cultures and religions, standing in solidarity against those who promote religious strife, sectarianism, racism and intolerance, thereby threatening security and stability of the world.
The Pope welcomed Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s visit to the Vatican City and highlighted its importance in establishing mutual cooperation and exchanging views on issues of mutual concern.
Pope Francis greeted Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the accompanying delegation on the occasion of Eid Al Adha and conveyed his greetings to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the occasion.
On his part, Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed expressed great appreciation for the Pope’s generous reception.
He conveyed the greetings of Shaikh Khalifa and his appreciation for the Pope’s role in working towards peace, love and solidarity between the peoples of the world.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed expressed appreciation for the role the Vatican has played in enhancing dialogue between civilisations, its humanitarian efforts and its efforts to enhance inter-religious dialogue. He made particular mention of the most recent dialogue between Al Azhar and the Vatican, which culminated in an announcement to hold a global peace conference and a commitment to working together to combat poverty, extremism and terrorism.
He added that such an initiative reinforces the culture of forgiveness, coexistence and confirms that the world stands united against terrorism and extremism. He further emphasised that a dialogue between the world’s most prominent religious institutions sends a clear signal of peace to the world.
Pope Francis praised the UAE’s efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue and coexistence between different people and cultures of the world. He congratulated the UAE for its ongoing humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives focused on education and healthcare and its role in promoting and supporting sustainable development around the world. —Wam