Monday, February 25, 2019

UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Pope Francis

The interim Director of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti gave some details today about a meeting that has taken place at the Casa Santa Marta between the Holy Father and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the United Arab Emirates.


Declaration of Alessandro Gisotti
Interim Director of the Holy See Press Centre

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness, Sheikh Abdallah Ben Zayed Al Nahyan was received today in private at the Casa Santa Marta by the Holy Father, Pope Francis.  The meeting began at 12:30 and they spoke for 45 minutes.

Minister Ben Zayed wished to communicate to the Pope the decision that the government of the United Arab Emirates has agreed upon to promote the application of the intentions outlined in the document entitled Human Fraternity for World Peace and common coexistence, which was signed by the Holy Father and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahamad al-Tayyib in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019.  Some of the expressions contained therein have already been implemented and others will be enacted in the future.

The Delegation presented to the Holy Father a box set containing some stones with inscriptions in Arabic, which express messages related to love, tolerance and brotherhood.

The Pope presented a copy of an engraving dating from the seventeenth century that shows the construction works in Saint Peter's Square and four large photo albums, intended for the President and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, containing a selection of the best images of the visit of the Pontiff to their country.

At the conclusion of their meeting, the Holy Father shared lunch together with the Minister and the delegation from the United Arab Emirates.

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