UAE Embassy in Berlin observes 'Year of Tolerance', Pope's visit to UAE
BERLIN, (Pakistan Point News - 24th Feb, 2019) The UAE Embassy in Berlin, in collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciature to Germany, has organised a cultural function observing the declaration of 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance' and the historic visit by Pope Francis to the UAE, recently.
The function was attended by Markus Grubel, German Government's Commissioner for Global Freedom of Religion, Nikola Eterovic, the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, Dr. Karl Justen, Head of the Commissariat of German Bishops - Catholic Office in Berlin, and representatives of the Protestant Church in Berlin, Federal Ministries, men of religion, and ambassadors accredited to Germany.
Addressing the ceremony, the UAE Ambassador to Germany, Ali Abdullah Al Ahmad, said that tolerance, peaceful co-existence, acceptance of others and cultural pluralism and diversity are quintessential Emirati values.
"The recent visit by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, is a historic milestone in interfaith dialogue that ideally fructified into the Human Fraternity Document signed during the visit," added the ambassador.
He doubled on the UAE's keenness to promote freedom of religion and interfaith dialogue.
Nikola Eterovic, the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, wished continued progress and welfare for the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, noting that the cultural function supports interfaith dialogue, not only between Muslims and Christians, but also between East and West to accelerate cultural exchange between the followers of all religions.
He underlined the importance of the Fraternity Declaration signed during the Pope's visit, calling for investing in the spiritual and humanitarian commonalities between all religions to promote elevated and sublime values.
Dr. Karl Justen, for his part, described the Christian-Muslim dialogue as a precondition for ensuring mutual understanding between all world peoples.