To commemorate Pope Francis, Dr. El Tayeb’s historic visit
ABU DHABI 6 February 2019: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has ordered allocation of a land plot in Al Sadiyaat Island in Abu Dhabi, to build a new landmark under the name ”Abrahamic Family Home”, to commemorate of the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb to the UAE and the launch of the ‘Declaration of Human Fraternity’.
The new landmark will symbolise the state of coexistence and human fraternity experienced by people from various ethnicities, nationalities and beliefs in the UAE. It will be inspired by the ‘Declaration of Human Fraternity’ which was signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, heralding a new era of rapprochement and amity among the different peoples, communities and religions.
Through the icons of the two leading religions of the world, the Declaration calls on reconciliation and fraternity among believers and non-believers, and among all people of good will to understand one another, cooperate with one an-other and live as brothers and sisters who love one another. It also states that pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings, said Wam.
Commemorative Stamp Issued
Emirates Post has issued a commemorative stamp to mark the Human Fraternity Meeting held in the capital, Abu Dhabi.
The stamp, decorated with the picture of Pope Francis and Dr. el-Tayeb, reflects the values of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
It also demonstrates the supreme humanitarian message of the UAE and its keenness to promote interfaith dialogue and the solidification of good and peace throughout the world.
Abdulla Mohammed Al Ashram, Acting Group CEO of Emirates Post Group, emphasised how the Human Fraternity coincides with the UAE’s announcement of 2019 as the ‘Year of Tolerance’. This historic meeting also highlights the UAE’s rich diversity as a country in which more than 200 nationalities from different religions, ethnicities and faiths live in harmony.
Louvre Abu Dhabi religious artwork collection unveiled before Pope Francis and Grand Imam
A collection of artworks celebrating different cultures from around the world was unveiled by Louvre Abu Dhabi in front of Pope Francis and Dr. el-Tayeb, in the presence of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
The unveiling ceremony was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State.
Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmad el-Tayeb were briefed on the artwork by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The collection is considered one of the most valuable found at the museum and includes sacred pieces that belong to different religions spanning the history of mankind.
The pieces include a medieval painting depicting Jesus Christ showing his wounds (1515 – 20 AD); a collection of holy books, including a copy of the Holy Quran dating back to the Mamluk period (1250 – 1300 AD), another from the Torah (1498 AD), a gothic gospel (1250 – 1280 AD), and four pages of the rare ‘Blue Quran’ (800 – 1000 AD) on loan from the Zayed National Museum collection.
The religious leaders were also briefed on the contents of the museum’s Gallery of Universal Religions, which features art from different beliefs displayed alongside each other.
The artifacts will be open for public viewing from next Tuesday, February 12th.
