Unesco head and UAE minister say Pope’s Mosul visit ‘a clear message to the world'

Support from the UAE has been vital for the effort to rebuild Mosul's ancient heritage

Pope Francis holds a minute of silence at the destroyed cathedral in Mosul's old city. Reuters

Pope Francis rides in a golf cart at the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Pope Francis, surrounded by religious dignitaries at a square near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Pope Francis releasing a white dove at a square near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Pope Francis arrives to pray for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City. Reuters

A photojournalist uses his camera from atop a broken wall near the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Pope Francis arrives to pray for war victims at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's old city, Iraq. Reuters

Iraqi children dressed in costumes wave national flags in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Girls wave national flags as they gather at Church square ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to visit Mosul. Reuters

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard as children dressed in costumes wave national flags in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Iraqi children dressed in costumes are pictured in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul get ready to welcome Pope Francis. AFP

Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul get ready to welcome Pope Francis. AFP

Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul get ready to welcome Pope Francis. AFP

People prepare before Pope Francis arrives to hold a mass at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square. Reuters

Iraqi soldiers keep watch before the prayer by Pope Francis for the victims of the war in Mosul. EPA

Iraqis gather in the ruins of the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. AFP

Preparations are under way at the ruins of Al Tahera Church in the Iraq's northern city of Mosul, a day before the arrival of the Pope. AFP

Pope Francis will say prayers for victims of ISIS and war at Al Tahera Church in Mosul’s Church Square, which is surrounded by several places of worship used by Iraq’s different Christian denominations. AFP

An aerial view of seating arrangements are being made at the ruins of Al Tahera Church. AFP

Syriac Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Chaldean Catholic churches can be found in and around the small square that is locked in by low-rise houses in Mosul’s Old City. AFP

Organisers lay seats at the ruins of Al Tahera Church in the Old City of Mosul in northern Iraq. AFP

Al Tahera is a symbol of the diversity that has been the story of Mosul for centuries and represents Iraq’s once-flourishing Christian community. AFP

Men walk past a poster of Pope Francis hanging above a ruined building in the Old City of Mosul. AFP

Christians who fled from Mosul after the ISIS rampage have been hesitant to return because of the post-war situation as well as a lack of trust in the government to provide them with the protection they need. AFP

The visit by Pope Francis to Iraq's Al Tahera Church sends a clear message to the world that harmony and cohesion is the way forward for humanity, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth and the Unesco director general said on Sunday.

During the historic papal visit, Noura Al Kaabi and Audrey Azoulay issued a statement welcoming the news. The UAE is funding a Unesco project to rebuild three historic religious sites in central Mosul, destroyed by ISIS terrorists who held the city.

“The Pope's visit to Al Tahera Church … sends a clear message to the world that harmony and cohesion between the followers of all religions is the only way for the advancement and progress of humanity, and the most effective means by which to address the increasing challenges facing the world,” the statement said.

The visit spreads a message of peace and fraternity and counters the “divisive message spread by the group responsible for destroying Al Nouri Mosque, [and] the Al Saa’a and Al Tahera Churches”, they said.

All three sites were destroyed by ISIS and in the battle against the terror group.

The pair said the Pope’s visit to the Unesco project – and the site office nearby – was a “source of inspiration” to those working on the rebuilding effort.