Abu Dhabi: Pope Francis has been reportedly invited to UAE by Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance. She handed over an invite from President Sheikh Khalifa to Pope Francis, when she was on a visit with a delegation to Vatican.

Shaikha Lubna emphasised the pivotal role of the UAE in sowing the seeds of love, tolerance and cooperation among its people under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

She said that the government took practical initiatives to make the UAE “an incubator for peace and the cradle of dialogue, understanding, coexistence and harmony”.

“This is demonstrated by the coexistence of more than 200 nationalities in the UAE in security, peace and prosperity,” she said.

Sheikha Lubna stated that global initiatives such as the Hedayah Excellence Centre, which works to counter violent extremism is a result of the keenness of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Shaikha Lubna expressed her satisfaction at the recent visit of Shaikh Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque, to the Vatican on May 23 where he discussed with the Pope ways to enhance dialogue between both sides.

Dr Hessa Abdullah Al Otaiba, UAE ambassador to Spain and non-resident ambassador to the Vatican City, Dr Farouk Hammada, the religious adviser at the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Court, The Reverend Canon Andy Thompson, the chaplain of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, and Yousef Al Nuaimi of the Minister of State for Tolerance’s office were are a part of the delegation from UAE which visited the Vatican.