VATICAN Pope Francis visits Bahrain to resume dialogue with Islam and the East

From November 3 to 6, the pontiff will visit for the first time a country of the vicariate of North Arabia. Monsignor Hinder: a message of peace, at a time when many people are experiencing “various forms of conflict, hostility and wars”. A kingdom of lights and shadows in terms of rights, violations and abuses against the Shiite opposition.

Manama () – In line with the historic visit to the United Arab Emirates in February 2019 (the first time to the Gulf countries at all), the Holy See yesterday made official the news of the apostolic trip of Pope Francis to Bahrain from 3 to November 6th. For the occasion the local Church has already opened a web page dedicated to the event (www.bahrainpapalvisit.org), where you can find the highlights and information about the local community headed by Archbishop Paul Hinder, apostolic administrator of Northern Arabia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain).

Rumors about the visit had already circulated in recent weeks, especially during the press conference on the flight back from Kazakhstan, where the pontiff had participated in the Congress on world religions. Yesterday the Vatican statement was published in which it is stated that “accepting the invitation of the civil and ecclesial authorities”, the Pope “will go to Bahrain from November 3 to 6”. Francis will visit “Manama and Awali on the occasion of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence.”

The theme of the trip, as Bishop Hinder explains in a video message, is “Peace on earth to men of good will”, a phrase taken from the Gospel of Luke. It is a “very appropriate” theme at a time in history when many people in the world are experiencing “various forms of conflict, hostility and wars” and “look to Heaven with a sincere cry for peace.” The Pope will participate in the congress and will celebrate a solemn mass at the Bahrain National Stadium on Saturday, November 5, “to which Catholics from Bahrain and the other countries of the vicariate of Northern Arabia are invited to participate.” Bishop Hinder concludes by entrusting the visit to the intercession of “Our Lady of Arabia”, patron saint of the Arabian Peninsula, to whom the cathedral built in Awali and inaugurated in December 2021 is dedicated.

Strong relations have existed between the Holy See and Manama for years, beginning with the first meeting in the Vatican between Pope Francis and King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa in May 2014. During the audience, the two leaders discussed peace in Middle East and dialogue. between the different components, as well as the contribution of Christians in the country. The visit to Bahrain will also be an opportunity to participate in the Awali Forum for Dialogue, whose central theme is “East and West for human coexistence”. Also present – in line with the 2019 Abu Dhabi event on Human Fraternity – will be the imam of al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyeb.

The official religion is Islam and the country is governed by Sharia, Islamic law, which is the source of law. The Catholics, some 80,000 out of a total of 1.7 million inhabitants (10% Christian), were originally immigrants from Iraq and Iran. With the oil boom came hundreds of thousands of Christians from Sri Lanka, India, Lebanon, the Philippines, and various Western countries. At Christmas and Easter, the churches of Bahrain – a country where there are also Jewish and Hindu communities – welcome many Christians from Saudi Arabia, where any religion other than Islam is prohibited.

However, in the country that invites the pontiff and supports the dialogue there are also elements of concern and violation of rights. Bahrain is a monarchy ruled by a Sunni dynasty, but the majority of the population (at least 60-70%) is Shia and has long called for constitutional changes and social and economic rights. In 2011, as a result of the Arab spring, there were disturbances that the king – an ally of Washington and supported by Riyadh – defeated with Saudi troops.

In recent years, authorities have arrested and sentenced Shi’ite religious leaders and activists and suspended the activities of Al-Wefaq, the main Shi’ite opposition group, accused of “terrorism, extremism and violence” as well as ties to Iran. In January 2019, the Supreme Court of the kingdom confirmed with a final sentence the life sentence for the leader of the Shiite opposition, Sheikh Ali Salman. Yesterday a prominent Shiite cleric, Sheikh Abduljalil Al-Miqdad, founder of the opposition group Al Wafaa and also sentenced to life in prison, was subjected to attacks and violence in prison and was denied medical care by prison authorities.