Milan, May 29, 2024
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in the presence of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, has presented to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan a rare historical manuscript dated August 14, 1624, which contains a papal decree issued by Pope Urban VIII at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. In addition, the Sharjah Ruler also presented Arabic and English versions of His Highness’ book, Papal Bull: Pope Urban VIII Pope of the Catholic Church Dated August 14, 1624.
In a keynote speech, His Highness extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to the President and members of the Sacred Heart University in Milan, Italy, for the warm welcome. The Ruler of Sharjah expressed great pleasure in being at the university and engaging in discussions with its officials. His Highness praised the efforts of the university’s administrative and academic bodies, as well as the students studying the Arabic language, describing them as the success of the collaboration between Sharjah and the university.
His Highness spoke about the manuscript presented to the university, which dates back to August 14, 1624, and the efforts made to verify and study it. The Sharjah Ruler explained that the manuscript is a papal decree issued by Pope Urban VIII and sealed at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, intended to raise financial aid to support the Portuguese fleet.
The Sharjah Ruler also discussed the conflict between the Portuguese and the English in Hormuz: “In 1622, the Portuguese were expelled from Hormuz, at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf from the Persian coast, after having occupied it for 115 years. English and Persian forces carried this out. The mission of the Portuguese leaders, along with the clergy, was to spread Christianity, whether in Hormuz, Persia, or India.”
His Highness added: “Following the expulsion of the Portuguese from Hormuz in Persia by the English, King Philip of Portugal sought to reoccupy Hormuz. However, the Portuguese government lacked sufficient financial resources to launch a military campaign to reclaim it. King Philip appealed to the clergy for financial support, which led Pope Urban VIII, the Pope of the Catholic Church, to issue a papal decree to collect the required funds from churches.”
His Highness explained that he translated and verified this decree and tracked the funds collected through the churches, which amounted to 200,000 cruzados, a Portuguese gold currency at the time. These funds were intended to build a fleet and send it to India to retake Hormuz. He noted that the fleet required a special type of large ship capable of crossing oceans, which necessitated a considerable amount of time. In addition, the voyage from Portugal to India spanned several months.
His Highness pointed out that King Philip ordered the funds to be sent to India and that a fleet of local ships be built there, given the shorter distance between India and Hormuz. The Sharjah Ruler noted that the details of the fleet and its armaments are included in his work titled “Papal Bull,”. The book also follows the course of the fleet to the battlefield in Hormuz against the English and Dutch forces, concluding with the defeat of the Portuguese fleet.
His Highness concluded his speech by addressing the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, today I present this manuscript as a gift to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, along with the book ‘Papal Bull,’ which is a scholarly study of that manuscript, to be placed in its rightful place at this prestigious university, in recognition of this academic collaboration.”
The gifting ceremony began with His Highness receiving a special welcome by the university’s musical group, which performed classical pieces in Arabic, expressing their deep appreciation for the Sharjah Ruler’s contributions particularly through the Arab Cultural Institute in Milan and His Highness’s ongoing efforts in the field of Arabic language and its study. They also conveyed the profound respect and admiration that His Highness commands within Italian academic and cultural circles.
In a written address delivered on behalf of Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, he expressed his gratitude for the Ruler of Sharjah’s visit to the Sacred Heart University and the generous gift of a valuable historical manuscript dating back to Pope Urban VIII. He affirmed that this cultural initiative reflects the importance of fostering cooperation between nations and institutions through culture and knowledge, thereby strengthening the longstanding historical ties between the Arabian Gulf and Europe.
Bishop Martinelli praised the constructive collaboration that embodies a spirit of openness and dialogue, which extends its influence across the university in various forms. He recalled the inauguration of the Arab Cultural Institute, an initiative launched by the Emirate of Sharjah, describing it as an exemplary model of cultural cooperation with the Sacred Heart University.
The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia also noted that His Highness possesses a profound humanitarian, cultural and scholarly sensibility, which was evident during their meeting at the beginning of his mission in the region. He expressed his gratitude for the Ruler of Sharjah’s interest in the Church and shared cultural initiatives.
For her part, Dr. Elena Beccalli, Rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, delivered a speech in which she expressed her deep appreciation for this valuable initiative and the invaluable gift. She praised the continuous support of Sharjah for academic and cultural programmes, particularly through the Arab Cultural Institute in Milan, which is a result of a successful partnership between the emirate and the university.
Beccalli added, “The manuscript presented to us by His Highness is of great significance to the history of both Europe and the Arabian Gulf. However, for anyone to truly understand the importance of this document, they must refer to the book Papal Bull: Pope Urban VIII Pope of the Catholic Church Dated August 14, 1624. It is a thorough historical investigation conducted by distinguished historian Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, spanning over two years of meticulous research and analysis. The book draws on a vast collection of original documents, manuscripts and rare correspondences, all compiled within a carefully structured scholarly text rooted in its historical context. The book has become a comprehensive reference for the original manuscript and may surpass even the most distinguished doctoral theses in its academic and historical value.”
In turn, student Alessandro Bottia, speaking on behalf of his peers, also expressed his gratitude to His Highness for providing them the opportunity to learn about the Arabic language and civilisation through the Arab Cultural Institute, inaugurated last year as a Sharjah initiative. He affirmed that this support had made a significant impact on their educational journey,
His Highness signed copies of the book Papal Bull: Pope Urban VIII Pope of the Catholic Church Dated August 14, 1624in both Arabic and English. In the copy gifted to the university, His Highness inscribed the following words: “I present to you this book, the result of extensive research, careful investigation, thoughtful consideration, and detailed documentation – highlighting key aspects of a significant chapter in both your history and ours. I have gathered fragments of a shared truth from around the world, recorded them in Sharjah, and now place them in your hands as a contribution to both the present and the future.” The gesture stands as an intellectual contribution that reflects Sharjah’s commitment to preserving history and fostering cultural dialogue with leading academic institutions worldwide.
His Highness also received an original embossed map of Milan dating back to 1657 from Dr. Elena Beccalli as a commemorative gift.
On the sidelines of the visit, His Highness toured the accompanying historical manuscripts exhibition, which features collections in various languages, along with artefacts owned by the Sacred Heart University. During the visit, His Highness also viewed the original Olympic torch, which is hosted at the university. The Ruler of Sharjah was briefed on students’ participation in the Winter Olympic Games, where they will carry the torch during the opening ceremony of the games to be hosted in Milan next year.
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Abdulla Ali AlSubousi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Italy; H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; in addition to the university’s administrative and academic staff and students.
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