Abudhabi - A Solemn Thanksgiving Prayer Service was conducted on 19 February 2023 at the St. Francis Church of the Abrahamic Family House, Saadiyat Island. The ceremony marked the first prayer service held at the church.
Consecration of the Church is scheduled to take place later, after which Sacraments can be administered in the church, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
Msgr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, a member of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, welcomed everyone to the church.His Excellency Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, His Excellency Bishop Paul Hinder, the Apostolic Vicar Emeritus and Msgr. Kryspin Dubiel, the Charge D’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in the United Arab Emirates were present along with other dignitaries, clergy and lay representatives.
During the prayer service, His Eminence Cardinal Michael L. Fitzgerald, conveying the greetings of Pope Francis, said the Holy Father encouraged everyone gathered to continue in the culture of dialogue as their path, adopt mutual cooperation as their code of conduct, and endeavour to make reciprocal understanding the constant method of their undertakings.
Bishop Paolo Martinelli concluded the service with a thanksgiving speech, in which he expressed gratitude to everyone present at the event. He particularly thanked the rulers of the United Arab Emirates, especially His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his vision for this House, Mr Abdulla Al Shehhi, the Director of the Abrahamic Family House, and Sir David Adjaye, the architect who designed and built the House.
The Abrahamic Family House is a complex encompassing the Church, Mosque, and Synagogue, located in the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi. It was officially inaugurated on 16 February 2023 by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
The complex is the fruit of the Document of Human Fraternity signed at Abu Dhabi by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during the visit of Pope Francis to the United Arab Emirates in February 2019.
The Abrahamic Family House, located in the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, was officially inaugurated on Thursday by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.