Thousands of Catholics prayed for Pope Francis and remembered his "peacemaker" legacy at one of the UAE’s oldest parishes during a mass in Dubai hours after his funeral.
The faithful bowed in prayer and took photographs at small memorials at St Mary’s Church in Dubai.
The Pope, who died on Monday at the age of 88, was laid to rest at Rome’s St Mary Major Basilica, following a funeral mass at St Peter’s Square that was attended by more than 250,000 people, including world leaders.
Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, led the mass and asked the faithful to follow the Pope’s example as a peacemaker in a fragmented world.
“Pope Francis was a tireless peacemaker. May his example enlighten the powerful of this world to choose peace over war,” the bishop said.
He asked the faithful to learn from the teachings of Pope Francis and “walk together with all people of good will, even with different faiths, and be peacemakers in this world.”
Message of mercy and love
Reminding Catholics of the Pope’s message of mercy and fraternity, the bishop said: “Deeply connected to the mercy of God, Pope Francis taught us also the gift of fraternity … But being merciful does not only mean forgiving those who have hurt us, but also helping our neighbours who are in difficulty, especially the poor and needy.”
Minutes before the evening mass began, worshippers queued up outside the church in Dubai’s Oud Metha neighbourhood.
Many said they had watched the funeral service and then came to offer prayers.
Remizio Rodrigues, 55, from India, said he was among tens of thousands at the historic 2019 mass that Pope Francis celebrated in Abu Dhabi. It was the first visit by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church to the Gulf.
“He was such a great person. He worked with poor people and spoke about the right of women to have a place in the church,” said Mr Rodrigues, who works in the oil sector.
“He worked for peace in Palestine with Israel and also in Ukraine. We have lost a great leader who was loved by so many in so many countries.”
Filipino national Emily Ramos, 46, said his kindness for the poor touched her.
“He was our beloved Papa Francis, he represented hope for all people,” said the finance professional.
“He showed humility and kindness to all of mankind and not just Catholics. He taught me to be humble and to care for the poor. I’m very sad about his death because of how much he meant to so many of us.”
Rosalin Oduka, 51, a housemaid from Kenya, said she hoped to support and help others following the spirit of the Pope’s teachings.
“Papa Francis was important to me and I learned from him that we should be there for others, he taught us to help others always.”
Make peace
The Bishop also recalled the Pope’s “unforgettable words” of unity and brotherhood after a multinational choir sang at the biggest outdoor mass at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in February 2019.
“His words during the homily at Zayed Stadium are unforgettable. He said: "You who are here know the Gospel’s tune and you follow its rhythm with enthusiasm. You are a choir composed of numerous nations, languages and rites; a diversity that the Holy Spirit loves and wants to harmonise ever more, in order to make a symphony.“
Bishop Martinelli reminded the faithful of the importance of interfaith dialogue and spoke of the landmark Document of Fraternity signed by Pope Francis with Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, in Abu Dhabi during his 2019 visit.
“This invited all religions to build a more fraternal world,” the Bishop said.
“I invite you to welcome the Pope’s teachings to be merciful and follow Pope Francis on the path of fraternity … Let us love one another because love comes from god.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
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Company name: Blah
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Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
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Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
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The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- Flexible payment plans from developers
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On sale: Now
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Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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