Pope Francis becomes the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula on Sunday as he landed in the UAE.

His arrival took place just hours after issuing his strongest condemnation yet of the war in Yemen, where his host the United Arab Emirates has a leading military role.

The pope said in his regular Sunday address in Vatican City that he was following the urgent humanitarian crisis in Yemen with great concern. He urged all sides to implement a fragile peace deal and help deliver aid to millions of hungry people.

“The cry of these children and their parents rise up to God,” he told tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.

“Let us pray strongly because they are children who are hungry, who are thirsty, they don’t have medicine and they are in danger of death,” he said before boarding his flight to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

via Reuters