New Abrahamic Family House Opens in the UAE a Multi-Faith Complex - Pope Francis was Represented by Cardinal Fitzgerald



In Abu Dhabi, a solemn interfaith ceremony was held for the opening of the Abrahamic Family House. This complex that represents the interfaith dialogue of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) containing a mosque, synagogue and a church. The inauguration, attended by religious and civil authorities, will be followed by a series of events over the weekend: Islamic on Friday, Jewish on Saturday, and Christian on Sunday. It is located on Saadiyat Island. The Abrahamic Family Home is one of the outcomes of the pope's visit to the Emirates in February 2019. 
During this first by a pontiff in the Gulf, Pope Francis signed the Document on Human Fraternity along with al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed al Tayeb, in the presence of more than 400 religious leaders, with the aim of promoting coexistence among peoples and fighting extremism.
 Then Vicar of Southern Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder described the complex as a place of learning, dialogue, and worship for the faithful of various religions, with a mosque, a church and a synagogue. 
 A Solemn Thanksgiving Prayer Service was conducted in the St. Francis Church of the Abrahamic Family House, Saadiyat Island, on 19 February 2023. His Eminence Cardinal Michael L. Fitzgerald, the representative of Pope Francis, delivered his address at the ceremony, which is the first prayer service held at the Church. The official consecration will be held later, after which the sacraments can be administered in the church, which is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Msgr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, a member of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, welcomed everyone at the church. His Excellency Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, His Excellency Bishop Paul Hinder, the Apostolic Vicar Emeritus and Msgr. Kryspin Dubiel, the Charge D’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in the United Arab Emirates were present along with other dignitaries, clergy and lay representatives.
 Conveying the greetings of the Pope, Cardinal Fitzgerald said at the prayer service, "He would also encourage all of us, gathered here today, to continue in the culture of dialogue as our path; to adopt mutual cooperation as our code of conduct; and to endeavour to make reciprocal understanding the constant method of our undertakings." Bishop Paolo Martinelli concluded the service with his thanksgiving speech, in which he thanked everyone who was present at the event. He thanked the rulers of the United Arab Emirates, especially His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his vision for this House, Mr Abdulla Al Shehhi, the Director of the Abrahamic Family house and Sir David Adjaye, the architect who designed and built the House. The project is the work of Sir David Adjaye OBE, and is designed to foster solidarity and encounter, while preserving the peculiarity of each of the three faiths who trace their common descent to Abraham. Once open, it will immediately host daily activities and international conferences to promote cultural and religious coexistence in different communities. After today’s opening ceremony, a conference will be held tomorrow on interfaith relations.

 ABOUT THE ABRAHAMIC FAMILY HOUSE

The Abrahamic Family House will be a beacon of mutual understanding, harmonious coexistence, and peace among people of faith and goodwill. It consists of a mosque, church, synagogue, and educational center to be built on Saadiyat Island, the cultural heart of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Through its design, it captures the values shared between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and serves as a powerful platform for inspiring and nurturing understanding and acceptance between people of goodwill. The vision for the Abrahamic Family House originated after the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb in February 2019. This landmark will be a place for learning, dialogue, and worship – open to all and a true reflection of the UAE’s belief in tolerance and hospitality. Within each of the houses of worship, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about religious services, listen to holy scripture, and experience sacred rituals. A fourth space—not affiliated with any specific religion—will be an educational center where all people can come together as a single community devoted to mutual understanding and peace. The Abrahamic Family House will host a variety of programming and events—from daily religious services to international summits. Currently under construction, the project’s anticipated completion date is in 2023 and will be one of several undertakings the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity will advise upon.

ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Architectural design should work to enshrine the kind of world we want to live in, a world of tolerance, openness, and constant advancement. Architecture and landscape design can interpret the fabric and principles of a place, to advance the conversation, reassess current assumptions about the world, and discover more meaningfully what a place can give back. The design aims to both meaningfully represent, and support diverse communities of worshippers, residents, and visitors, unlocking a contemporary spirit that draws from tradition but looks towards the future – a future defined by acceptance, inclusion, and peace. The design seeks a common language between the three monumental buildings of faith, grounding them with an external visual harmony, while ensuring they retain their vital formal distinctiveness. Three identically sized cubic volumes sit on the podium, unified by their scale and external materiality. They each express themselves differently but share equal external dimensions, with a unifying roof at a shared datum height, ensuring that none of the buildings from the three is more dominant than its counterparts.

Image: By Boubloub - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126491103

Text Sources: https://avosa.org/news/thanksgiving-prayer-service-at-abrahamic-family-house and https://www.abrahamicfamilyhouse.ae/about-us

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