ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Interfaith leaders gathered on Monday in Abu Dhabi to mark one year since Pope Francis’ historic trip to the Arabian Peninsula, a visit that saw leading Muslim clerics gather alongside the pope to promote co-existence. The majority of the country’s population are not Emirati Muslim citizens, but foreigners, millions of whom are Christian and Hindu. Abu Dhabi hosted Monday’s meeting to showcase its continued efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue as it prepares to break ground this year on a compound that will house a mosque, church and synagogue side by side. Pope Francis’ trip last year marked the first ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula. Just before he departed for Abu Dhabi last year, the pope appealed for an end to Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, saying the “cries of these children and their parents rise up” to God.

Source: thestar February 03, 2020 13:07 UTC