Pope Francis will visit Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from February 3 to 5, where he will take part in an international “interfaith” meeting, the Vatican said Thursday.

The pontiff was invited to the majority-Muslim country by both Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and the local Catholic church, the statement said.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi commented on the announcement of the pope’s visit saying: “We look forward to the pope’s historic visit aimed to maximize opportunities for dialogue and coexistence among nations.

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, also commented in a tweet saying:

We welcome the news of Pope Francis' visit to the United Arab Emirates next February - a visit that will strengthen our ties and understanding of each other, enhance interfaith dialogue and help us to work together to maintain and build peace among the nations of the world. — HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) December 6, 2018

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 14:03 - GMT 11:03