As part of his official visit to the Vatican His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, recently met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.
During the meeting which took place at the headquarters of the papacy, HH Shaikh Mohammad discussed ways to boost cooperation and bilateral relations between the UAE and the Vatican state, especially with regard to development, social and humanitarian issues, including initiatives in the field of education and health in underprivileged communities.
The meeting also touched on issues of international interest, most notably the promotion of peace among different peoples, humanitarian issues, the phenomenon of violence and terror that target innocent people and the role of the international community in combating it and eliminating its sources.
HH Shaikh Mohammad highlighted the UAE’s keenness to support all international efforts that seek to achieve rapprochement between the countries and peoples of the world and work to enhance security and safety in various areas.
He commended the positive role of the Pope in peace-building and promoting dialogue among civilisations, and developing common human values among them.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin commended the UAE’s efforts in promoting tolerance and coexistence, its outstanding contributions in the humanitarian and social fields, along with its assistance to communities and peoples without distinction or discrimination. He also praised the UAE’s endeavours to encourage peaceful dialogue between different civilisations, wishing the UAE and its people stability and prosperity.
The visit of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the Vatican and his meeting with Pope Francis is a historic milestone in the UAE’s abiding commitment to interfaith harmony and tolerance among people. The visit is yet another reaffirmation by the UAE of how it promotes values of peace, harmony and cohesiveness in its social fabric, strengthening its role model stature on the global stage.