Sheikh Mohamed bids farewell to Pope Francis - in pictures

The leader of the Catholic Church heads to Rome following a three-day visit to Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bids farewell to Pope Francis at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bids farewell to Pope Francis. Vatican Media / EPA

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  Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed praised Pope Francis for his role in establishing the foundations of peace, fraternity and humanitarian dialogue.".

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  Sheikh Saif bin Zayed bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, left, bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Noura Al Kaabi UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, bids farewell to Pope Francis. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Pope Francis boards the plane. Vatican Media / EPA

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  Pope Francis waves to Sheikh Mohammed as he boards the Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Vatican Media / EPA

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  Pope Francis bids farewell as he boards an Etihad Airways flight. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bids farewell to Pope Francis. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Pope Francis has departed the country following a three-day visit to Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and a host of other UAE sheikhs, ministers and dignitaries saw off the Pope at the Presidential airport.

It is customary for the pontiff to send telegrams to heads of state of the countries over which the papal plane will be flying over.

In a message to President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Pope Francis said: "As I depart from the United Arab Emirates, I renew my deep appreciation to your highness, the government and the people of the UAE for your warm welcome and generous hospitality. I assure you of my prayers and invoke upon all of you abundant divine blessings."

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