A digital replica of a carpet that was presented to Pope Francis by the UAE has been sold at an auction for Dh306,184 to help raise funds for Afghan women and families.
In 2016, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, gave the "Pontifex Carpet" to the pope during a visit to the Vatican.
On Friday, a digital version of the carpet was sold as an NFT, or non-fungible token, where the buyer paid 25 Ether, a cryptocurrency equivalent to $83,361(Dh306,184).
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, receives Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, on February 4, 2019. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed welcomes Pope Francis to the UAE. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis. This was the head of the Catholic Church's first visit to the UAE. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed receives Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of the Al Azhar Al Sharif, in Abu Dhabi. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Pope Francis greets Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
In Abu Dhabi, Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb signed a statement known as the Document on Human Fraternity. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Pope Francis is welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed. AFP -
Sheikh Mohamed receives Pope Francis pass a guard of honour. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Pope Francis is presented with flowers upon his arrival. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of State for Tolerance greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Diab bin Tahnoon greets Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE National Security Advisor, greets Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at the Abu Dhabi airport. AP Photo -
Men sing and dance during arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Children dance during the arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
A traditional Ayala dance is performed during the arrival of Pope Francis. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
A traditional dance is performed upon the arrival of Pope Francis and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayyeb bid farewell while departing from the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
NFTs are digital tokens that allow buyers to gain ownership of a digital item, whether it is art, music or drawings.
The original physical carpet remains with Pope Francis, but the NFT has helped “immortalise” the artwork.
The carpet was woven by Afghan women and comes from the Tolerance range by Zuleya.
Zuleya is one of the retail arms of the Fatima Bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative, which sells handicrafts made in Afghanistan.
Zuleya teamed up with the UAE’s MORROW collective to turn it into an artwork that will be displayed in an ornate gold frame on a 165-centimetre digital canvas.
It was designed to be a symbol of peace and harmony, and was presented to Pope Francis when the two leaders met to discuss strengthening existing diplomatic links and promoting inter-religious harmony.
In 2019, Pope Francis visited Abu Dhabi, becoming the first Pope in history to visit and perform papal Mass in the Arabian Peninsula.
