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UAE: Hundreds join Pope Francis' memorial at St Francis Church, recall his 'simplicity, love'
A senior official at the Abrahamic Family House also remembered the late pontiff's sense of humour
- PUBLISHED: Fri 25 Apr 2025, 8:59 AM
Hundreds of priests, diplomats and community members gathered at the Church of St. Francis in the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi for a special memorial dedicated to the late Pope.
During his sermon at the memorial Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio reflected on Pope Francis’s legacy of humility and compassion, saying he consistently reminded the world that “the Church is a hospital for the poor.” From the very start of his papacy, the late pope “set a different tone – one of simplicity and closeness to the people.”
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Rejecting traditional displays of power, Pope Francis embodied solace and humility. His choice of the name Francis — after St Francis of Assisi — was a clear statement of his commitment to peace and love. The Nuncio noted that the church where the Mass was held, also named after St. Francis, symbolises those same values.
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The Nuncio highlighted powerful moments of the late pope’s ministry, including how he ‘comforted the forgotten’ and ‘wept with refugees and migrants’, saying these acts reflected the mercy of God. Pope Francis’ legacy challenges the Church ‘to go forward’ with that same vision, he concluded.
Father Stefano Luca, Resident Priest of St. Francis Church at the Abrahamic Family House, said while Pope Francis’ landmark visit to the UAE in 2019 was deeply symbolic, coinciding with the UAE’s Year of Tolerance, the timing had an even deeper historical resonance.
"Why 2019? Because it was the 800th anniversary since the encounter between St Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt, Al-Malik al-Kamil in 1219. The two historical figures came together during the Crusades and formed an unlikely friendship – something Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb sought to revive.
Their 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi led to the signing of the Human Fraternity Document, which is considered a milestone in interfaith dialogue. “The visit also laid the groundwork for the Abrahamic Family House. Though the vision may have existed earlier, Father Stefano noted that the historic visit "gave decisive boost that now is the time to do it.”
Watch a video of the memorial service, here:
He recalled meeting Pope Francis personally a couple of times, describing the Pope’s humility and warmth. "His simplicity and his willingness to greet… look into our eyes… the profound spirituality connected to the profound humanity." When asked if the Pope said anything personal to him, Father Stefano remembered: "Be happy and be a good Franciscan friar." This was particularly meaningful as both he and the Pope are followers of St Francis of Assisi, the namesake of the church he now leads. Looking ahead, Father Stefano aims to carry forward Pope Francis' legacy by nurturing interfaith friendship and understanding on a human level.
Abdulla Al Shehhi, Acting Executive Director of the Abrahamic Family House, said the signing of the Human Fraternity Document by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi “was not by accident,” but rather a deliberate decision based on “their conviction in the role of the UAE in the protection of tolerance.” The Abrahamic Family House, he said, was “one of the fruits of the covenant,” and now stands as a testament to the pope’s values of peace and unity.
Watch people join in large numbers to honour the late pope's legacy:
Recalling a personal moment, Al Shehhi described meeting Pope Francis in Rome, alongside Mohamed Al Mubarak, president of the Abrahamic Family house. They presented the pope with a gift and showed him a video featuring the life of the church in Abu Dhabi. “His face was really radiant with satisfaction,” he said, sharing how even in pain, the pope’s “smile was the same.” He also fondly remembered the pope’s humour, recounting how he joked about a wedding photo they showed him that was held at the church. The Pope joked that the man was making a mistake by getting married, “and we all laughed from the sense of humour,” Al Shehhi added.
Despite the church being designed for 300 worshippers, Al Shehhi said it has welcomed over a thousand people every Sunday since opening. “Over a hundred thousand people have prayed [here], and this number is constantly increasing.” He added that the church will continue to honour Pope Francis’s memory “for decades and centuries” by carrying forward his values: “forgiveness, peace, love, and sincerity.”
