Roman Catholics in the UAE can't wait to see the Pope and attend public mass

A historic public mass is to be held in Abu Dhabi to mark the landmark visit of Pope Francis to the UAE in February.

Details about the location are still being worked out, but Paul Hinder, Catholic bishop for southern Arabia, said it will take place on the morning of February 5.

“Arrangements are being put in place to make it possible for a maximum of our faithful to participate in this historic event,” said Mr Hinder.

News of the mass that will be celebrated by the Pope himself came as some of the one-million-strong Roman Catholic community living in the UAE spoke on Sunday of their excitement ahead of February's trip — the first by a Pontiff to the Arabian Peninsula.

Pope Francis will participate in an interfaith meeting during the two-night visit from February 3 to 5, along with a number of other engagements. A website has already gone live where people will be able to find out more about the public mass once the details are released.

Roman Catholics have enjoyed the freedom to worship here since before the country was formed. Formal relations between the UAE and the Vatican were established in 2007, but contact stretches back decades.

St Joseph’s Catholic church opened on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche in 1965. The Ruler of Abu Dhabi at the time, Sheikh Shakhbut, attended the opening and an aerial photograph of the building shows it was then surrounded by nothing but sand. More Catholic churches opened in the years that followed.

The visit by Pope Francis is the culmination of years of work by pioneering priests, congregations and the tolerance of the leaders in the UAE.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the Pope is a symbol of peace and tolerance. "We look forward to a historic visit, through which we will seek dialogue on the peaceful coexistence among peoples," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the visit would help build peace around the world.

The visit by the 81-year-old Pontiff comes a few days after his trip to Panama.

The National