The signing of the Abu Dhabi Declaration is an official event that expresses the opinion of the world’s religious leaders to stop using religion for hate speech, violence, bigotry and extremism.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio deliberately took the name Francis. The name he chose in honor of an example from Assisi (Italy) known as Saint Francis. Jorge, born in Argentina, to be precise in Flores, Buenos Aires, December 17, 1936, who was elected as Pope, the highest leader of the world’s Catholics in 2013, certainly did not choose a name randomly.
Saint Francis is recorded in history as a Catholic religious leader who succeeded in establishing a dialogue with Islamic religious leaders during the fifth Crusade. In 1219, Saint Francis of Assisi went to the port city of Tamiat or Dumyat which is the mouth of the Nile River into the Mediterranean Sea. It was a time of truce. Saint Francis crossed the lines of war and met with Sultan Malik Al Kamil, who was the nephew of Salahuddin Al Ayyubi. Sultan Al Kamil welcomed the arrival of St. Francis very well, so that there was a dialogue of mutual respect. St. Francis and his entourage were even recorded as staying a few days at the headquarters of Sultan Al Kamil.
Pope Francis, leader of 1.3 billion Catholics, eight centuries after that historic event, on Sunday 3 February 2019, arrived in Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the United Arab Emirates. The incident was certainly not a coincidence. The choice of day, choice of year, and choice of place must have been carefully thought out by all parties involved. The three day visit on the Arabian peninsula is truly like a repeat of history.
The next day, Monday 4 February 2019, Pope Francis met Prince Mohammad Bin Zayed An Nahyan, the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates who invited him. Together with the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rasyid Al Maktum, the three of them discussed the good relations that have been established with the Vatican and other important issues. In principle, the meeting continued the existing cooperation to promote tolerance, dialogue and coexistence between various religious communities around the world. Pope Francis did not forget to also give appreciation to the role of the late Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Al Nahyan who has made the United Arab Emirates a country that respects various differences in culture, religion and civilization.
The meeting which took place at the presidential palace ended with the giving of quite special souvenirs. The Pope received a leather box containing a copy of a historical document dated June 22, 1963 signed by Sheikh Syahbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi, who authorized land in western Abu Dhabi for the construction of the Catholic Church. Inside is also a historic photo of Sheikh Syahbut with Bishop Luigi Magliacani da Castel del Piano who was the Catholic bishop of Arabia at that time.
In the afternoon, Pope Francis met with Dr. Ahmad Al Thayib, the grand mufti of Al Azhar who is the Chair of the Muslim Council of Elders which on that day held an inter-religious conference. The meeting took place at the Jami Syeh Zaid bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque, a large mosque as well as the tomb of the great leader of the United Arab Emirates. Pope Francis arrived after 5pm with a tight guard. Dozens of police and army cars in the area around the mosque complete with three helicopters patrolling. Pope Francis who came in his beloved Kia Soul and immediately met the Muslim representatives of elders who had been waiting in the closed meeting room. Dr Quraish Shihab, an Indonesian scholar and cleric, was one of those who welcomed Pope Francis to the meeting.
Digging for Important Meaning
After Maghrib, Pope Francis continued his visit to the interfaith conference which took place at the Founder’s Memorial. The two-day conference, which is expected to attract 700 participants from around the world, has been taking place since Sunday. Dozens of religious leaders representing Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others spoke at the forum previously opened by the United Arab Emirates Minister of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak.
One of the conference participants from the Arab American Institute, James J Zogby wrote his deep impression of the conference and the visit of the Pope at that time. The article published on the www.jordantimes.com website www.jordantimes.com explains the significance of this very historic event.
First, the Pope’s visit to the Arabian peninsula, to a Muslim country that believes in Wahhabism, then holding a mass with 35,000 visitors inside the stadium and more than 100,000 people outside the stadium is too big and too historic to pass up. This event is very big because for the Catholics in the United Arab Emirates, numbering approximately one million people, this is an event that validates their existence and religion. This event is a form of respect for the rulers of the United Arab Emirates which in history has also been shown by its founder Sheikh Zaid in the 60s. Currently, there are 40 churches in the UAE, including Protestants, Orthodox Christians and Evangelicals.
Second, the signing of the Abu Dhabi Declaration entitled “Document on Human Fraternity” is an official event that expresses the opinion of the world’s religious leaders to stop the use of religion for hate speech, violence, fanaticism and extremism which often uses excuses in the name of God to justify killings. oppression, expulsion, and terrorism.
One of the important statements of the mufti of Al Azhar is the recommendation to treat Christians around the world as brothers and sisters. Christians should not be seen as a minority but should be seen as equal citizens. This is also corroborated by Pope Francis’ statement about society placing various religions and beliefs to get the same rights as citizens.
The Abu Dhabi Declaration further affirms the concept of citizenship based on equal rights and obligations which includes justice. It is very important to create a full citizenship concept that rejects the discriminatory use of the term minority which creates feelings of isolation and inferiority.
In closing, Dr. Quraish Shihab at the end of his speech emphasized the positive developments of the Church’s recognition of Islamic teachings that are in line with Christian teachings. This attitude is much different from the previous attitudes that used to be a place to fish in murky water.
In addition to these positive things, Dr. Quraish Shihab further emphasized, we also find affirmations from a number of countries and governments, especially the United Arab Emirates, about the need to make continuous efforts to strengthen tolerance, cooperation, and constructive work for the realization of brotherhood. humanity that can be enjoyed by all humans.