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How a Muslim tried to help his Christian wife attend papal mass in UAE

Dubai - Bernice was among hundreds who queued up outside the church to grab last-minute tickets for the mass.

When Filipina expat Bernice Soroosh, a devout Catholic, was waiting for hours to get her chance to get a ticket to attend the papal mass, her husband, Yousef Soroosh, an Emirati, was patiently waiting in the parking lot of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
"I told my husband that I would like to attend the papal mass and he offered to drive me to St. Mary's Church to get a ticket. I was really touched by his offer. This Papal visit has proven that people, even a married couple like us, who come from different religious backgrounds and cultures, can arrive at a common ground," said Bernice. "My husband is a Muslim and I'm Catholic, but there is deep respect for culture and faith in our family."
The couple met four years ago at Bernice's workplace. "We may have different religions but we have the same faith and belief in one God. We look at the similarities rather than differences of our religions," said Bernice, who has been married to Yousef for over a year now.
Bernice said they have not decided yet which religion their future children would follow, but "respect, compromise, love and tolerance" will be the hallmarks of their healthy relationship.
Bernice was among hundreds who queued up outside the church to grab last-minute tickets for the mass. She was not lucky enough to get a ticket to the mass, but expressed happiness for those who did.
angel@khaleejtimes.com