Latest news with #ElKassis
Khaleej Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
‘He loved this country': Holy See envoy to UAE reflects on his time with Pope Francis
In an interview with Khaleej Times, the Papal ambassador to the UAE, Archbishop Christophe Z El Kassis, shared his deeply personal understanding of Pope Francis' legacy; one shaped not only by shared diplomacy but by years of close encounters and private conversations with the late pontiff at the heart of the Vatican. Having worked closely with the late pontiff, the archbishop remembers a man with exceptional warmth, humility, and attention to detail. 'What attracted me in His Holiness, was his very good memory. Imagine, the Pope who meets a thousand of people and has plenty of assistants, when he sees you, he still remembers your origins and many things about you. It touched me, really.' During his time at the Vatican's Secretariat of State, Archbishop El Kassis had the opportunity to sit beside the Pope, interpreting Arabic and French during high-level meetings. 'You sit next to him to tell him what other people are saying, so only 10 centimetres separate you from the Pope; it was a very nice experience.' Archbishop El Kassis recalled a unique touch by the Pope since he was elected in 2013 - he witnessed Pope Francis's visits to the secretariat's offices on the same day each year – 'on Thursday of the Holy Week... after Palm Sunday, before Easter,' he recalled. 'So, in five years, I saw him every year coming to greet us. This did not happen often.' He noted that it is not common for a Pope to go personally to pay greetings in offices. A living legacy in the UAE Pope Francis' passing earlier this week marked the end of an era, but for Archbishop El Kassis, the work continues in the UAE, a country he describes as uniquely open and welcoming. The Catholic Church's diplomatic presence has been significantly bolstered in recent years. From the historic gifting of the Church of St Francis by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed to the establishment of the Abrahamic Family House, Archbishop El Kassis said the relationship between the Holy See and the UAE 'was strengthened, especially with the signing of the document of fraternity.' The Abrahamic Family House, which brings together a mosque, church, and synagogue in one complex, has become a focal point for interfaith dialogue. 'We included Arabic masses there,' said the Papal ambassador, noting that before the inauguration of the house in 2023, services were mainly in English. 'I personally celebrate [the Arabic Mass] to maintain these ties,' he added. These services now take place three times a month, with plans to increase their frequency during the summer. Bridging communities across borders In addition to his mission in the UAE, Archbishop El Kassis was appointed as the Apostolic Nuncio to Yemen in July last year. While security concerns have so far prevented him from presenting his credentials in the country, he expressed deep concern for the people of Yemen and a desire to contribute to peacebuilding efforts there. 'I am really personally very sorry for what's going on there - the conflicts, the wars,' he said. 'We see a fine solution to all these problems, and we want peace for everyone." He explained that while his physical presence is pending, the Church is already offering assistance through two community officers who support the poor and vulnerable. 'Through our prayers, we pray for Yemen, as we pray for all nations,' he added. Memories of Pakistan Prior to his current role in the UAE since January 2023, Archbishop El Kassis served as the Holy See ambassador to Pakistan for over four years. His time there left a lasting impression. 'I still miss Pakistan. I love this country,' he said. During his tenure, he visited all seven dioceses across the country and took part in numerous interfaith conferences and events. The Pakistani government, he said, regularly hosted Christmas celebrations at the presidential palace, extending invitations to diplomats and religious communities alike. The archbishop compared this gesture of inclusion to similar traditions in Indonesia, where he began his diplomatic service. Both nations' presidents and prime ministers often attended the annual Christmas celebrations – 'It was a very nice attention,' he described. A Pope who left a mark When asked about the most significant global contributions of Pope Francis, Archbishop El Kassis named four: advocacy for migrants, care for the environment, concern for the poor, and promotion of interfaith dialogue. He pointed to major Church documents such as Laudato Si' and Laudate Deum, which emphasised care for the earth as part of divine responsibility. 'If we respect nature... we are respecting the Creator God,' he explained. He emphasised that the Church's social mission is driven by two pillars - social justice and human dignity. 'Every person should be respected... regardless of their religion, of their sex, of their colour, of their ethnic group,' he said. Inter-religious dialogue, in particular, was a priority for the late Pope. 'If we have peace among religions, we have peace in the world,' the archbishop noted. A visit that almost happened Pope Francis had planned to visit the UAE during COP28, but the trip was cancelled just days before his arrival due to illness. 'Everything was set up for the visit of His Holiness,' said El Kassis. 'But five days before the visit... the Pope got the flu and bronchitis.' Despite the disappointment, the Pope recorded a video message for the event. The archbishop remembers sensing the Pope's frustration and desire to return. 'I saw in his eyes... the desire to come back.' Looking forward While the Church awaits the appointment of a new Pope, Archbishop El Kassis said the mission remains clear. 'Popes can change, yes... but the relations are already on the track,' he said. 'We have to push forward these things.' He also emphasised the importance of understanding the different personalities and pastoral styles of each Pope, while each Pope brings a unique style and focus, the Church's mission remains constant. Changes in papal leadership, he explained, are less about shifts in values and more about responding to what is most pressing at a given time. Just as a mother may give special attention to a sick child without loving the others any less, the Church under each Pope may prioritise different issues based on current global needs. 'All Popes have this big heart and loving heart to the nations,' he said, stressing that differences are shaped by context and urgency, not by hierarchy of importance.' As the Holy See continues its outreach in the UAE and beyond, Archbishop El Kassis hopes to see the next Pope visit the Emirates. 'I felt that [Pope Francis] liked this country. He loved this country,' he said. 'And here, they showed His Holiness a high level of respect, love, care... and welcoming.'
The National
25-04-2025
- General
- The National
'A voice of compassion': Hundreds pay tribute to Pope Francis at Abrahamic Family House
Pope Francis was remembered in Abu Dhabi on Thursday as a different type of pope who brought a message of hope and peace to the world. Archbishop Christophe El Kassis, Apostolic Nuncio to the UAE, said the late pontiff was a 'prophetic voice in our time'. In his homily at a special mass for the pope, Archbishop El Kassis, ambassador of the Vatican in the UAE, said the pontiff stood for the poor, the suffering and those left behind. 'From his first appearance as pope, he set a different tone – one of simplicity and closeness to the people,' said Archbishop El Kassis, at the mass at St Francis church at the Abrahamic Family House. 'He presented not an image of power but of service. Not a voice of judgment but of compassion.' The service took place at 7pm and was attended by a large congregation, including ambassadors, dignitaries, members of different faiths in the UAE, and worshippers in what was the official church memorial mass in the UAE for Pope Francis. The pews were packed and seats and screens were set up outside so everyone could take part in the service. Photos of the pope were placed outside the church and inside with the faithful paying their respects throughout the evening. Hymns drifted from the church out into the complex and incense hung in the air as the community came together to remember the late pontiff. The mass was presided over by Archbishop El Kassis and concelebrated by Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia. Archbishop El Kassis reflected on how the pope chose the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi – the church is also named after this saint. He highlighted how Pope Francis embraced the disfigured and sick, washed the feet of prisoners, met with refugees and migrants, and called for the protection of the Earth. 'Among his most urgent appeals was a cry for peace, a rejection of war and violence – an appeal that he reiterated on Easter Sunday a few hours before he left this earthly life.' The UAE's one-million strong Catholic community has been in mourning since the pontiff's death on Monday from a stroke and heart failure after battling respiratory infection. Pope Francis's body is lying in state at the Vatican where crowds are continuing to pay their respects. His funeral will be on Saturday at 10am (noon UAE) and will be attended by world leaders. A special mass will also take place in Dubai at 7.30pm at St Mary's Church. Tens of thousands are expected. Thursday's official mass and Saturday's gathering is in addition to daily prayers being held at churches across the UAE. A book of commemoration has also been placed at St Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. More than 100 cardinals under the age of 80 will vote for a papal successor in a secret ballot known as conclave. Pope Francis in 2019 became the first pontiff to visit the UAE where he held an open air mass in Zayed Sports City. 'Pope Francis made the first ever visit by a pope to the Arabian Peninsula by visiting this blessed land … the UAE,' said Archbishop El Kassis. He reflected on how the pope cosigned the Document on Human Fraternity with Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar. 'It was a profound testimony to mutual understanding … [and to the conviction] that peace among religions is essential to peace among the peoples.' He explained how the document emphasised mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and interreligious dialogue and laid the philosophical and spiritual groundwork for the Abrahamic Family House that opened in 2023. 'Today as we celebrate this holy mass in honour of Pope Francis, we do so with sorrow … but greater still is our thanksgiving,' he said. 'He has fought the good fight until the last minute of his life. He has finished the race. He has kept the faith.' And while worshippers are in mourning, it is also tinged with respect for the pope who made a real difference across the world. 'Tonight we are remembering and praying together for the soul of Pope Francis,' said Capuchin Fr Stefano Luca of St Francis Church. 'And his legacy as well.' Fr Luca said one of the reasons St Francis church was chosen as the venue for the official mass is because it is linked directly to the late pope. 'Being inside the Abrahamic Family House is a beacon for the world of coexistence, peace [and] friendship.' Despite his failing health, the pontiff appeared at St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday to greet people in his last appearance. Fr Luca said Pope's Francis's last words reflected on peace and human fraternity. 'This is something here in the UAE we will try our best to carry on – peace and human fraternity.' Klaudyne Marcaida, who attended the mass with her husband Ryan and daughter Claire, said Pope Francis was 'very close to my heart". 'When he died, it was very heartbreaking for me,' said Ms Marcaida, who is from the Philippines and has lived in Abu Dhabi for eight years.' 'The mass was very heartfelt," said Ms Marcaida, who was one of the volunteers during the Pope's visit in 2019, adding while everyone was sad, 'we know that Pope Francis is in a very good place right now'. The Abrahamic Family House is an interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, which also houses the Imam Al Tayeb Mosque and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue. 'I had the distinct pleasure and honour of meeting Pope Francis twice,' said Abdulla Al Shehhi executive director of the Abrahamic Family House. 'And both meetings had quite an impact on me.' 'You see why millions of people around the world absolutely love him. He's a genuine good soul. I think history will look favourably and kindly upon him.' Mr Al Shehhi said he saw the pope only a few months ago to give him updates on St Francis church along with a video montage. 'His face was shining when he looked at it,' he said. 'He really, really loved what he saw and he was visibly touched by it,' he said. 'Pope Francis was a great advocate of peace and he consistently fought for it and negotiated for it and advocated for it. I think that's going to be his legacy here as well at the Abrahamic Family House.' Mr Al Shehhi said there were two main messages at the service on Thursday. 'First of all, of course, pray for the Pope and keep him in your thoughts and prayers,' he said. 'And the second message is to continue to uphold his legacy – continue to uphold the values that he lived for and he fought for and continue to be good human beings.'
