“To live in poverty in the middle of the world”

By Fr Joe Babendreier

In February 2019, Pope Francis became the first pope to visit the United Arab Emirates, in fact, the first pope to visit any country in the Arabian Peninsula. His visit included a meeting at the Presidential Palace with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has deliberately shunned the slightest suggestion of luxury, especially when it comes to being driven through the city streets. Many a bishop, even here in Africa, has been seen in a Mercedes Benz or a Land Cruiser. Not Pope Francis. He would rather sit on the back of a bicycle than be caught alighting