His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Thursday 15 September 2016, gives Pope Francis a photo book of archaeological findings on Sir Bani Yas Island. I helped to prepare this special book about Sir Bani Yas and the Church of the East. It featured details of our excavations of the church and monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island, as well as showing some of the plaster stucco decoration with crosses found at the church. The book included information on different archaeological discoveries on the island, including the landmark historic church and monastery dating back to the 7th and 8th century AD, demonstrating the clear spirit of religious tolerance and coexistence that prevailed in the region historically (Photo credits: WAM).