Pope Francis holds prayer meeting at Sacred Heart Church, thanks King, Bahrain for exquisite hospitality

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

His Holiness Pope Francis has expressed gratitude for the days spent in Bahrain and thanked His Majesty the King and the government for the hospitality.

"I would now like to say 'thank you for these days together," Pope Francis said in his prayer meeting and Angelus with bishops, priests, consecrated persons, seminarians and pastoral workers at the Sacred Heart Church in the capital Manama.

"With a heart full of gratitude I bless all of you, especially those who worked to prepare for this journey. Since these are my last public words, I thank His Majesty the King and the authorities of this country for their exquisite hospitality."

The Pope also hailed the variety he encountered during his four-day historic visit to Bahrain on November 3-6 at the invitation of HM the King, coinciding with the Bahrain Dialogue Forum: East and West for Human Co-existence.

"The variety – as I have seen in these days – is a mirror of this country, of the people who dwell here in it, but also of its landscape that, though mostly desert, boasts a rich variety of plants and living creatures," he said in the final public appearance of his visit to Bahrain, his 39th Apostolic Journey.

In his meeting, Pope Francis stressed the importance of credibility and respect while dialoguing with others in multi-religious and multi-cultural societies.

"To be credible when we dialogue with others, let us live in fraternity among ourselves. Let us do so in our communities, valuing the charisms of each person without humiliating anyone," he said.

"Let us do so in our religious houses, as living signs of harmony and peace. Let us do so in our families so that the sacramental bond of love is seen daily in service and forgiveness. Let us do so in the multi-religious and multi-cultural societies in which we find ourselves, as tireless promoters of dialogue and weavers of fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other creeds and confessions."

Chris Noronhia, one of the numerous attendees, said that they have been eagerly anticipating the Pope's arrival ever since the news of his visit to Bahrain was announced.

"I know that I have been blessed to grow up here in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a country where religious tolerance and freedom is a way of life," she said.

Sister Rose Celine, a member of the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel, said that they have been active for the last two decades.

"We began our missionary journey in the Kingdom of Bahrain on 3 January 2003. Bahrain known as the 'land of smiles welcomed us warmly," she said.