Pope Francis has arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the first ever visit by a pontiff to the Arabian peninsula.
He landed in Abu Dhabi where he was greeted by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
Christian pilgrims are not often seen in the Arabian peninsula, where Islam was born. But they are flocking to one of its emirates, Abu Dhabi, for its first papal mass.
The Pope will take part in an interfaith conference and on Tuesday hold Mass in which 120,000 people are expected to attend.
More than 100,000 are preparing to pack the Zayed stadium, adorned with a big cross, to celebrate the Eucharist with Pope Francis. Hotels are full of pilgrims chanting hosannas.
Some hold standards bearing the Christian dove of peace tweaked with wings the colours of the United Arab Emirates (uae) flag. The pope is “a symbol of peace, tolerance and the promotion of brotherhood”, says Muhammad bin Zayed, the crown prince, de facto ruler and papal host.
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