A delegation from the Abrahamic Family House met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday. Led by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, president of the Abrahamic Family House, the delegation presented the pontiff with a model of St Francis Church – which is located at the holy site in Abu Dhabi.
“The Abrahamic Family House embodies the UAE’s enduring principles of mutual respect, interfaith understanding, and harmony,” Mr Al Mubarak said. “Our ongoing partnership with the Holy See signifies a profound commitment to His Holiness in nurturing a global community anchored in human fraternity and peaceful coexistence.”
The Pope thanked the delegation for their efforts in promoting greater harmony and understanding between all faiths. The UAE maintains a close relationship with the Vatican, working together on initiatives to promote peace, and enhance interfaith co-operation.
What is the Abrahamic Family House?
The Abrahamic Family House was built as the physical manifestation of the Document of Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, during the pontiff's visit to the Emirates in 2019.
Located in the Saadiyat Cultural District, it is a unique complex that is home to a mosque, church and synagogue. Designed by Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, it is intended to capture the values shared between all three faiths.
The mosque faces the qibla, towards the Kaaba in Makkah, while the synagogue faces west to Jerusalem, and St Francis Church is named in honour of St Francis of Assisi, the 13th century Italian friar known for his dedication to peace, humility, and compassion.
Since opening in 2023, St Francis Church has welcomed 130,000 worshippers for services and prayers, and has hosted more than 100 events, including marking important moments in the Christian calendar.
The Abrahamic Family House - in pictures
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THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
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Date started: Okadoc, 2018
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The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
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As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
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1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
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3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
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9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
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11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
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19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
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Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
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Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
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Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
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The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
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As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
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