How Pope Francis’ historic trip to the UAE affected his legacy

When Pope Francis touched down in Abu Dhabi in February 2019 in his ‘Shepherd One’ aircraft for the first visit in history of a pontiff to the Arabian Penninsula, it was a watershed moment not only for the region, but for interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance as a whole.

As he walked side by side with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif University and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, carrying on a warm dialogue across the red carpet, the UAE’s Year of Tolerance reached perhaps its highest peak, and the three days that followed featured many memorable moments, including a public mass at Zayed Sports City which drew over 100,000 people.

The moment was hugely significant in the history of the UAE, and it was massively important for Pope Francis as well.

“I think the entire trip to Abu Dhabi was important to him. Every moment that he was there is charitable in his opinion. And I think every moment being there and trying to spread the love, trying to spread the peace, the message that we are all together and we’re all brothers, no matter our beliefs, [was significant]. I think that’s an incredible moment,” his close confidante and personal documentarian Evgeny Afineevsky tells Esquire Middle East.

Afineevsky, whose new film about the Pope, entitled Francesco, is now streaming on Discovery+, available on StarzPlay in the Middle East region, says that the trip to the UAE was a key part in Pope Francis’ mission to create a dialogue between Islam and Christianity.

“You know, I think knowing him and knowing his history, he always was standing for the interfaith values. Values that are connecting every person, no matter what is his religious beliefs. From being Archbishop of Buenos Aires, today in the position of the Pope, he was always embracing interfaith dialogue. Dialogue that brings peace. And I think for him to do this historic moment, to unite people together in the prayer was really tremendous moment for him, personally. And the message of Abu Dhabi continues for him,” says Afineevsky.

Since leaving the UAE, the Pope has moved forward with what he gained from the Abu Dhabi trip fresh in his mind, according to the documentarian, something that has influenced his trips to the region since.

“Even in 2020, and I think also this year, he tried to continue the legacy of his trip to Abu Dhabi and I think he was celebrating it. I think it was an event that, because of all the limitations this year, he celebrated. He wanted to commemorate this historic moment of the fraternity that was established in Abu Dhabi,” says Afineevsky.

“I was reading some stuff from the Vatican and from the fraternity commission. I think he was really pushing this message, because he wanted that the people will learn from this historic moment and also to continue celebrating. It’s a celebration of love, it’s a celebration of life, it’s a celebration of brotherhoods, of a fraternity.”

Afineevsky’s documentary follows the life and teachings of Pope Francis, featuring exclusive interviews with Francis, as well as Benedict XVI, and others, focusing on contemporary issues such as the refugee crisis as well as climate change. In the film, the Pope focuses strongly on issues affecting Muslims across the world, from the crisis in Syria to the displacement of Myanmar’s Rohingya community.

Afineevsky, an Israeli-American who was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2015 documentary about Ukraine entitled Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, has since maintained a strong friendship with the Pope, so can speak with authority on what is on his mind.

“We are in touch, all the time,” says Afineevsky. “And I was in Rome recently a month ago seeing him. So, even the pandemic happening, I’m still traveling. I still see him and I’m still in touch. And that’s the remarkable thing with Pope Francis. He is your friend. He is the leader of the Catholic Church. He’s a role model. And he is a remarkable human being, who making things in this world different who trying to bring the church to the 21st century. And at the same time, it’s not easy, because it is a long-standing institution, which step by step, takes the time to adjust themselves to the 21st century.”

Afineevsky has long been struck by Pope Francis’ warm personality, something that stays constant even in private.

“My favourite interactions with him are always off camera, because he’s a human being. He’s a great person to have a conversation. He loves to listen, he loves to understand you, and give you advice or help you. He’s the person who makes you feel so comfortable next to him that you’re thinking that it’s not even Pope Francis. It’s your friend, your brother, somebody from your family, your relative, your very close relative,” says Afineevsky.

“When you are next to him, you’re not feeling any difference between him and you. He makes you feel comfortable next to him. And that’s Pope Francis. He’s very humble. And he is ready to give you a hand and help any moment during 24 hours. And that’s the beauty of him and you know what, I’m enjoying all my conversations with him off camera, rather than on camera, because it’s something that I cherish more.”

One important moment that struck Afineevsky recently was Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq in the midst of the current situation with COVID-19.

“He promised the people to Iraq to come and to comfort them and to show them act of unity. He came in the middle of pandemic. Despite all the critical situations in Iraq, he came, he delivered. And what is beautiful to see in him, is that it’s not all about the words. It’s about actions. And that, I guess also resonates with me. Less talking and more doing,” says Afineevsky.

Overall, making the documentary Francesco, and becoming friends with Pope Francis, has changed Afineevsky completely as a person.

“Pope Francis showed me a lot of lessons in my life that, yes, you don’t need to be afraid to admit your mistakes. You need to respect your neighbour and to understand with persons that not all of us are the same, but we are equal to other human beings. There is many lessons that I learned from him and a lot of lessons that I apply to my life in today’s world. The movie changed me, changed me in many ways. I’m looking at the world in completely different spectrum in today than it was before.”

Francesco is now available on Discovery+ through StarzPlay in the Middle East