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Abu Dhabi, Sep 17, 2016: When I saw the photo of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Thursday, I was overjoyed. Here was a meeting of two men of different religious and cultural backgrounds, but who share common goals and common interests.

In the UAE, Sheikh Zayed’s legacy of tolerance and mutual understanding between people of different religious beliefs and nationalities continues. The UAE is an island of peace and tolerance in a region where radical groups are undermining the tradition of peaceful coexistance. For his part, Pope Francis, as head of the worldwide Catholic Church, stresses the basic values for our common house: the world as God’s creation and gift to humanity. There is a deep understanding in our two religions, Christianity and Islam, that human life has to be protected, family life fostered, poverty overcome and justice and peace made the main concern of every political action.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed with Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Over more than 12 years in the UAE as bishop of Catholics in this country, in Oman and in Yemen, I have followed the progress in building up this nation and in establishing laws that help not only to maintain the values of the past but also to further develop social cohesion. The common interests between Christianity and Islam are much bigger than the sometimes negative historical burdens. As a Christian, I am sad to see that Muslims are the main victims of criminal, so-called Islamist, radicals. Before God we all have a duty to do everything possible so that the name of God is not abused to justify killings. The name of God and the dignity of human beings deserve protection from every godless assault.

I am sure that the two great men who met in the Vatican on Thursday took the opportunity to foster common understanding and to deepen relationship. From my side, I can give assurance – and I think I also speak on behalf of the other Christian churches – that we are willing to partake in building a just and peaceful society. We shall continue to contribute as far as we can to the education of less-privileged people. Following the intention of Pope Francis, we will do our best to help people struggling in their daily life. Finally, we continue to pray for the political and religious leaders that they may continue to work in favour of a harmonious and just society.

The writer is Bishop of the Catholic Church, Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, meets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Pope Francis exchange gifts during a private audience at the Vatican. Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE, which is home to 200 nationalities, was a model of coexistence for the world. Claudio Peri / EPA

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his delegation with Pope Francis. Claudio Peri / AFP

Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit to Vatican an historic event, says Sheikh Nahyan

ABU DHABI // Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, says Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s visit to the Vatican and his meeting with Pope Francis were a historic event.

Sheikh Nahyan said the visit embodied the sincere pursuit of peaceful co-existence and stability by Sheikh Mohammed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, reported Wam, the state news agency.

"I felt proud of being an Emirati while witnessing the visit of Sheikh Mohammed to the Vatican," Sheikh Nahyan said.

"I shared with all Emiratis the happiness about the visit as it embodied the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s role, not only in achieving a successful and overall renaissance in the country, but also his sincere pursuance and strong commitment to accomplish peaceful co-existence and stability across the world."

He added the visit confirmed Sheikh Mohammed’s strong belief in the importance of enhancing principles of dialogue and co-existence among people of other religions and cultures as well as both sides’ vision of religion as a positive driving force in people’s lives.

UAE and Vatican unite on tolerance, security and peaceful co-existence

VATICAN CITY // Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Pope Francis held discussions on strengthening existing links and promoting the acceptance of others’ beliefs.

"We are working together on promoting and enabling, for peace and stability to prevail throughout the world," said Sheikh Mohammed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, after the meeting at the Vatican on Thursday.

He said that desire stemmed from the UAE’s values of achieving peace and security as a prerequisite for sustainable global development.

Pope Francis lauded the UAE’s efforts to promote tolerance, dialogue and coexistance. He commended the UAE for its humanitarian and philanthropic initiatives focused on education and healthcare, and its role in promoting and supporting sustainable development around the world through the adoption and deployment of sustainable sources of energy and by supporting countries and communities in need.

The pope also offered his greetings to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, and congratulated Sheikh Mohammed and the UAE delegation on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.

Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE appreciated the efforts undertaken by the pope to confront intolerance, extremism and violence as well as attempts to defile places of religious sanctity.

He praised the pope’s initiatives to tackle poverty, ignorance, violence and the culture of hatred, which could lead to increased intolerance and extremism. The UAE is working to address these challenges through humanitarian initiatives and projects to provide assistance to those in need, he said.

The UAE also aims to develop international legislation to protect religions from people who provoke tension and hostility between followers of different faiths, Sheikh Mohammed said.

He added that the UAE was a model of coexistence for others because it was home to 200 -nationalities who "live in harmony despite differences in culture, race and religion". He said the law against hate crime and discrimination, which was -issued by Sheikh Khalifa last year, reinforced this idea.

Sheikh Mohammed said Islam was a religion of tolerance and moderation."Terrorist groups that pretend to act in its name deviate from its true path."

The first step in defeating these groups is for them to be seen as criminal groups that have no connection to any religion, race or geographic area, he said.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the visit was an opportunity to show a united front against all forms of intolerance.

"Pope Francis has reached out to faith leaders of all religions to reject extremism wherever it occurs. The UAE is proud to stand with him. We believe that the ideology and actions of extremists do not represent the core ethos of Islam and must be loudly denounced on that basis. Above all this is a battle for hearts and minds," he wrote in an opinion article on CNN.com.

Promoting enlightened religious discourse is critical in order to de-legitimise those who try to hijack religion with a distorted ideology, said Sheikh Abdullah.

"The pope has expressed his hope for a stable Middle East that respects the rights of all faiths equally, a view we support in word and in deed. Within a region rife with sectarian-fuelled conflict, the UAE is a peaceful home to a multiplicity of diverse nationalities and ethnicities, living side by side in a culture of unity, religious tolerance, inclusivity and economic opportunity."

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, called the meeting between Sheikh Mohammed and the pope "a historic moment".

"Two human epitomes who share love for humanity and rejection of the causes of division and disagreement," he tweeted, while Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar and chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, also used Twitter to praise the visit as aiding "efforts to promote tolerance, achieve peace for humanity".

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, said: "Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to the pope is part of his continuous meetings aimed at promoting the values of tolerance, peace and co-existence in all societies."

Sheikh Mohammed presented the pope with a photo book of archaeological discoveries on Sir Bani Yas Island and a "Carpet of Peace", made by weavers from a programme launched by Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed bin Zayed to support women in rural Afghanistan, to allow them the means to integrate into the workforce within the Afghan culture.

Sheikh Mohammed also met Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

Sheikh Mohammed and Cardinal Parolin, along with Sheikh Abdullah, discussed ways to boost cooperation between the UAE and the Vatican, especially with regards humanitarian issues, including initiatives to boost education and health in underprivileged communities.