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Francis in United Arab Emirates

A formation of fighter jets emit trails in the Vatican colors of yellow and white before a Feb. 4, 2019, welcoming ceremony for Pope Francis at the entrance to the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Pope Francis visited United Arab Emirates Feb. 3-5, 2019.

Francis expresses openness to Vatican mediation in Venezuela

By Joshua J. McElwee

Pope Francis has expressed openness to the Vatican stepping in to mediate in Venezuela, where the head of the country's national assembly has declared himself interim president after months of unrest 

Francis encourages Catholic minority during first public Mass on Arabian Peninsula

By Joshua J. McElwee

United Arab Emirates: Pope Francis sought to fortify the Catholic minority in this Muslim country Feb. 5, encouraging a dynamic but disenfranchised community of migrant workers and housekeepers to "face up to the trials of each day."

In Abu Dhabi, Francis urges renouncing 'every nuance of approval' for war

By Joshua J. McElwee

United Arab Emirates: Pope Francis urged religious leaders to renounce all forms of support for violence Feb. 4, using the first papal address on the Arabian Peninsula to call it a "duty" of the world's faiths to reject "every nuance of approval" for war.

Pope arrives in Abu Dhabi, praying for nearby Yemen

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

The sun had set long before Pope Francis arrived in Abu Dhabi Feb. 3, but Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince, and Egyptian Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, still went to the airport to welcome him.

Yemen conflict complicates pope's upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi

By Joshua J. McElwee

Some Middle East experts are wishing Pope Francis would reconsider the February visit to the United Arab Emirates because of that country's role in the coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

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