Francis is the first
pontiff to visit the North African country since John Paul II in 1985 and the cathedral had been repainted for the occasion.
During the visit, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan gifted the
pontiff the act of notary that dates back to June 22, 1963, for a donation of land to build the first church in the UAE.
The
pontiff, in an interaction with journalists after taking off from Abu Dhabi, spoke glowingly about his visit and the hospitality extended to him in the UAE.
The
pontiff was then led by a delegation into a minibus -- in keeping with his insistence on no-thrill vehicles - which took them off to the Presidential Palace escorted by convoy of black security vehicles.
The
pontiff was met by Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, his wife Ruth and their three daughters Jessica, Beth and Annalise.
"We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones." Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Many engulfed in the ongoing migration crisis were forced to flee from leaders "who, to impose their power and increase their wealth, see no problem in shedding innocent blood," said the 81-year-old
pontiff.
The
pontiff, once labelled "disgraceful" by Trump, continued to look impassive.
Yeshiva World News quoted Gluck's son Zvi, who was part of the delegation, as saying the
pontiff pledged to work toward enacting "stronger rules against destroying Jewish cemeteries to build roads or homes."
Government had asked local telecom operators to suspend operations in areas where Pope Francis will visit to avert any untoward terroristic attempts on the
pontiff that will involve the use of a telecom-equipped gadget.
The
pontiff gave the Queen and Prince Philip an orb decorated with a silver cross to deliver to Prince George.
BEIRUT: The Maronite patriarch assisted Pope Francis during a Mass Wednesday at the Vatican and thanked the
pontiff for his recent calls for peace in the Middle East.
"
Pontiff, you speak words of American capitalist pigs!''