Pope Francis’ Bahrain visit to ‘foster religious unity’

TDT | Manama                  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

Staff Reporter

Pope Francis intends to foster dialogue between Catholics and Muslims during his coming trip to Bahrain, and will launch a message of peace to the Arabian Gulf, Arab News reported yesterday, quoting senior Catholic priests and Christian historians.

The Pope will arrive in Bahrain tomorrow. Monsignor Paul Hinder, the apostolic administrator of the North Arabia apostolic region, which includes Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, said in a statement to media that the Pope’s trip to Bahrain followed the path begun with the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Common Coexistence,” which Francis signed in February 2019 in Abu Dhabi together with Shaikh Ahmed al Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of al Azhar, a figure of reference for Sunni Muslims.

Hinder believes that the Pope will carry out a “positive strategy” of rapprochement with the “different currents” of the Muslim faith and offer an invitation to continue along the path of dialogue with other religions.

Bahrain will be the 58th country visited during his pontificate by Pope Francis, and he will be the first pontiff in history to set foot in the Kingdom. The Pope will bless the new cathedral of Bahrain, Our Lady of Arabia.

It was inaugurated on December 10, 2021 on the 9,000 sq m of land donated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Vatican City State Secretary Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the papal visit is a sign of unity and dialogue at an important historical moment.

Meanwhile, the registration has begun for those who wish to attend the Papal Mass on November 5 at Bahrain National Stadium. The registration is available on the website bahrainpapalvisit.org.