Pope Francis: ‘Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life’
Reporting by Gulf News staff: Alex Abraham, Jay Hilotin, Anupa Kurian, Aelred Luis, Evangeline Elsa, Anjana Kumar, Janice Ponce De Leon, Irish Eden Belleza, Ahmed Ramzan, Ahmed Kutty, Abdul Rahman and Leslie Sison
In this year of tolerance, ‘Baba Francis’ brought with him the message of love, human dignity and peace on his historic visit to the UAE. Abu Dhabi drew the biggest gathering of faithful in this part of the world, with more than 130,000 people converging at the Shaikh Zayed Sports City stadium on Tuesday. Watch our live coverage here:
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On the Papal flight returning to Rome, the Pontiff will speak to media accompanying him in a press conference.
His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, today delivered a Holy Mass in front of 170,000 worshippers who gathered inside and outside of the Shaikh Zayed Stadium to participate in a historic moment for locals, residents and the visitors of Abu Dhabi.
Delivering a greeting at the end of the Mass, Pope Francis said: “Before concluding this celebration, which has been a source of great joy to me, I wish to extend my affectionate greeting to all of you who have participated; the Chaldean, Coptic, Greek-Catholic, Greek-Melchite, Latin, Maronite, Syro-Catholic, Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankar faithful.”
“I sincerely thank Bishop Hinder (Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia) for the preparations of this visit and for all his pastoral work. A warm thanks also to the Patriarchs, Major Archbishops and all the other Bishops present, to the priests, consecrated persons and to so many lay faithful who are deeply committed, with generosity and a spirit of service, to their communities and to the poorest.”
“May Our Most Blessed Mother Mary sustain you in your love of the Church and in your joyful witness to the Gospel. Please, do not forget to pray for me. Thank you!,” the Pontiff said in conclusion.
