The UAE will hold a solemn memorial mass for Pope Francis on April 24 at 7 PM at the Church of St. Francis within Abu Dhabi’s groundbreaking Abrahamic Family House, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia announced.
The service will bring together diplomats, interfaith leaders, and the Catholic community to honor the pontiff who revolutionized Christian-Muslim dialogue.
Service Details
Presiding Clergy
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Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis (Vatican Ambassador to UAE)
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Bishop Paolo Martinelli (Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia)
Expected Attendees
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UAE government representatives
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International diplomats
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Interfaith leaders
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Catholic faithful from across the Emirates
A Fitting Venue for a Visionary Pope
The Abrahamic Family House, inaugurated in 2023, embodies the interfaith harmony Pope Francis championed during his historic 2019 UAE visit – the first papal trip to the Arabian Peninsula. The complex’s three worship spaces include:
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His Holiness Francis Church
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Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque
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Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue
Nationwide Tributes to “The Pope of Migrants”
Following Bishop Martinelli’s call, Catholic churches across the UAE held special masses this week honoring the late pontiff’s legacy:
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St. Joseph’s Cathedral hosted an emotional service where Bishop Martinelli recalled Pope Francis’ 2019 visit
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The Bishop emphasized the Pope’s special bond with UAE’s migrant community, who comprise most of the country’s Catholic population
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Clergy and worshippers remembered the Pope’s touching visit to their cathedral and his message of inclusion
Pope Francis’ Enduring UAE Legacy
The late pontiff’s groundbreaking 2019 visit achieved historic milestones:
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First papal Mass for 135,000 faithful at Zayed Sports City
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Signing of the Human Fraternity Document with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar
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Pioneering interreligious dialogue in the Gulf region
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Strengthening protections for migrant workers
Why This Memorial Matters
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Continues the interfaith dialogue Pope Francis began in the UAE
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Honors his vision of human fraternity embodied in the Abrahamic Family House
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Reinforces UAE’s commitment to religious tolerance
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Celebrates his special connection to the migrant community
Memorial Service Information
Date: April 24, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM Gulf Standard Time
Location: Church of St. Francis, Abrahamic Family House, Saadiyat Island
Wrapping UP
This memorial service transcends religious observance, representing a living testament to the values of tolerance and human fraternity that both Pope Francis and UAE leadership championed.
As global representatives gather at this architectural symbol of interfaith unity, the event underscores the UAE’s pivotal role in fostering cross-cultural understanding – a legacy that continues to grow from the seeds planted during the Pope’s historic visit.
