Abu Dhabi, Apr. 23rd, 2007 (WAM)---H.H Pope Shenouda III, the117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Markarrived today in Abu Dhabi starting a visit during which he willinaugurate the new premises of the St. AntoniusCoptic Orthodox Church and Library in UAE capital city.

Pope Shenouda was received by President of IslamicAffairs and Awqaf Authority (endowment) Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al-Mazrouei,Director of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf Authority Dr. Hilal MatarAl-Ka'abi, other officials and Egyptian Ambassador to the UAEMohammed Saad Obaid.

Pope Shenouda praised the status the UAE achieved under the leadershipof President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and thecountry's role in boosting dialogue among civilizations and culturesand rapprochement among faiths of the world.

H.H Pope Shenouda will inaugurate the new Coptic Church in AbuDhabi on Wednesday.

Archbishop of the Coptic Church in Jerusalem, Gulf and Near EastBishop Doctor Abraham invited UAE senior UAE officials, Christianand Muslim religious scholars, members of the Egyptian diplomaticmission in Abu Dhabi.

Bishop Issac Al Anba Bishoy, pastor of the Church, thanked PresidentH.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H Sheikh Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Rulerof Dubai and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, AbuDhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE ArmedForces, for the religious tolerance entertained by the Coptsand other Christian communities in the UAE and in Abu Dhabi inparticular.