Pope Francis accepts UAE invitation to travel to Dubai in December

The Vatican confirmed on Wednesday that Pope Francis will accept an invitation from UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to travel to Dubai in December.

The pope’s trip to Dubai, which will take place from 1-3 December, will be the first visit by a pope to the UAE. Pope Francis will meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as other religious and political leaders of the UAE.

Pope Francis will also participate in a conference on climate change, which will be held in Dubai from 2-6 December.

The pope’s trip to the UAE is an important milestone in relations between the Catholic Church and the Muslim world. The United Arab Emirates is a country with a majority Muslim population, but there is also a small Christian minority.

The pope’s trip to the UAE is a sign of hope for peace and understanding between religions, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.

The pope’s trip to the UAE is also a symbol of the Catholic Church’s openness to the Arab world. In recent years, Pope Francis has made several trips to Muslim-majority countries, including Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.

The pope’s trip to the United Arab Emirates is a historic moment for the Catholic Church and the Arab world, said John L. Esposito, director of Georgetown University’s Center for the Study of Islam and Christianity.

The pope’s trip is a sign that the Catholic Church is committed to dialogue with the Muslim world, Esposito said.

Statement by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni

Accepting the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, His Holiness Pope Francis will make the previously announced trip to Dubai from 1 to 3 December 2023, on the occasion of the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).