ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Pope Francis entered the Zayed Sports City Stadium here to tens of thousands of people chanting his name.
In a way, it was a victory lap of sorts. He did what no pontiff has ever done – visited the Arab Peninsula, and holding a Catholic Mass in a country where it is still illegal to convert from Islam to another faith.
In the first sentence of his homily, Francis proclaimed the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the part of the world called the cradle of Islam.
In his homily, the pope spoke on the words of Scripture, known as Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed; this is the word with which Jesus begins his preaching on Matthew's Gospel," he said.
About 120,000 people attended the mass. About 45,000 were inside and the rest viewed it on big screens outside.
POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES FIRST-EVER PAPAL MASS IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The event capped off the pontiff's 40-hour pilgrimage to the oil-rich nation.
His presence here signifies a new chapter in the history of Christian- Muslim relations, one in which moderate Muslims who believe in religious tolerance and peace take the reins.
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The pope came here by invitation from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, kicking off the country's year of tolerance. The pontiff met with Muslim leaders, signed a document affirming human brotherhood and toured Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque.
Although the UAE is considered one of the most tolerant Muslim- majority countries, it is not without Islamic restrictions. Christian churches are not allowed to display crosses or ring bells, and Christians are forbidden from proselytizing.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF POPE FRANCIS' UAE VISIT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXAGGERATE (NOBEL COMMITTEE, TAKE NOTE)
But still, considering the region, it's making tremendous progress. The name of the mosque next to the Christian church compound in Abu Dhabi was renamed Mary Mother of Jesus, a testament to the fact that in the Quran, the Muslim holy book, the Prophet Mohammed revered Jesus as a great prophet, and mentioned Mary His mother prominently and with great respect.
However, the Pope's trip was not without tension. The Pope spoke out against the war in Yemen, where the UAE has taken a leading role. At about the same time, Egypt's Grand Imam accused Western media of exploiting Islam as a violent religion after the 911 terror attacks.
But all agreed that religious violence has no place for the people of God. The Pope emphasized that love of God should unite, not divide.
“We gravely profane God's name when we justify hatred and violence against a brother," he said.
By inviting Pope Francis to the Arabian Peninsula, the UAE is also hoping to send a message to the rest of the Arab world that religious tolerance and freedom from ISIS is the future.
It's a call, many say, to get on the right side of history.
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