Posted on 12/07/2018 4:27:11 PM PST by marshmallow
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The first visit by a pope to the Arabian peninsula will take place in February when Francis travels to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the Vatican said on Thursday.
The Feb. 3-5 trip, Francis' latest to a predominantly Muslim nation, will be centered around the theme of inter-religious peace.
The Vatican said the pope had accepted an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the tiny Catholic community there. He will attend an inter-faith meeting.
In a statement, Bishop Paul Hinder, head of the Roman Catholic Arabian Vicariate of Southern Arabia, thanked the UAE government for having given permission for the pope "to celebrate a Mass at a public venue in Abu Dhabi".
The freedom to practice Christianity — or any religion other than Islam — is not always a given in the Gulf and varies from country to country.
In the UAE and Kuwait, Christians may worship in churches and other places with special licenses. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, bans the practice of other religions.
Hinder, whose jurisdiction includes the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen, said the Mass would be held on Feb. 5.
Francis has visited Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan and the Palestinian territories and used those trips to call for inter-religious dialogue and to condemn the notion of violence in the name of God.
(Excerpt) Read more at kfgo.com ...
Will he be preaching socialism and secularism again?
LOL!!!
The first, heretic, communist, Muslim Romance Catholic "pope"; He's already got the first two down pat. Why not go for the "Triple Crown"!
I think this is as good a time as any for Catholics to have a serious heart to heart about checks and balances in the hierarchy. What happens if the Pope decides to openly become an atheist? The way things are set up now, even if 100% of the cardinals and bishops agree, they couldn’t get rid of him. There needs to be some continuity mechanism. You don’t even have to make it easy. Lets say 90% vote to dump. Its not like having bad popes is just a theoretical concern.
You mean to Catholicism?
It might be nice if they would keep him.
Why can't Francis' theme be, "Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature." After all, that is his job.
To share the Gospel?
“I just hope he doesn’t convert.”
—
Convert from *what*?
Well, Jesus reportedly visited Satan so I guess the pope can visit Satan’s Legions ( Islam) Though, he’ll probably issue another bullsheit statement about how wonderful Islam is. Not good to “legitimize” the Enemy, especially when it wants to murder you and all your family/ followers
He can stay there.
Remember when “Is the Pope Catholic?” was a joke question.
Now even Catholics are asking it.
He already has.
He is not a Catholic.
He hates faithful Catholics.
Anyone who thinks Vatican II teaches the Catholic Faith should have no problem with this visit and these activities.
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