Bahrain land of tradition and progress: Pope Francis

TDT | Manama                  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is a “place of encounter between different peoples” and a land where “ancient and modern converge; tradition and progress mix,” said Pope Francis yesterday after a courtesy visit to Sakhir Royal Palace alongside His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Bahrain, above all, is a place where people from different backgrounds create a distinctive mosaic of life, the Pope said in his speech laced with images of the Tree of Life and emblem of vitality in the Kingdom. The pontiff invited all to bring “the waters of fraternity” to “the parched deserts of human co-existence” and work together.

He thanked the organisers of the conferences promoted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, which stress “the themes of respect, tolerance, and religious freedom.” These themes, he said, enshrined in Bahrain’s constitution, are “commitments that need constant practice, so that religious freedom will be complete and not limited to freedom of worship.

Pope called on to recognise “equal dignity and equal opportunities” for all, that no forms of discrimination exist and that fundamental human rights are not violated but promoted.” He highlighted the right to life, even for criminals, “whose lives should not be taken.”

Attributing Bahrain’s progress largely to immigration, Pope shed light on the plight of unemployment in the world. He called for safe and dignified working conditions to foster cultural and spiritual growth and advance social cohesion. Bahrain, he said, can be proud of its significant contributions in this regard,” pointing to the first school for women in the Gulf region and the abolition of slavery.

Pope Francis then called on world leaders to work tirelessly to confront the climate emergency and expressed hope that the COP27 meeting a few days after would be a “step forward in this regard.” His speech also focused on the “forgotten war” in Yemen and the senseless reality of war, which sows destruction and crushes hope.

“I beg: Let there be an end to the clash of weapons! Let us be committed, everywhere and concretely, to building peace.” Pope Francis concluded his address by quoting the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, which highlights the role of religious faith in building a foundation of peace.

From the stage, the 85-year-old pope, suffering from knee pain, was led in a wheelchair to the entrance of the courtyard with the king walking alongside. The pope rose and the two embraced before the pontiff got into a white Fiat 500 with Vatican plates.