MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Pope Francis shifted gears Saturday at his stop in Bahrain to address the Gulf Catholic community, presiding over a massive open-air Mass and then meeting with other young people to give them a little fatherly advice: Don’t just Google your questions about life’s decisions. he told them. Instead, locate a parent, instructor, or grandparent who can advise you.
After focusing on Catholic-Muslim relations during the first two days of his four-day stopover in the small kingdom on Saturday, Francis was treated to the multi-ethnic diversity of networked Catholic paintings in the Gulf region. It is basically made up of South Asian migrant personnel who leave their families behind to devote themselves to construction, oil extraction, domestic industries and services.
Some 30,000 people, some from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf countries, packed Bahrain’s national stadium for Francis’ main Mass. The English liturgy was obviously aimed at foreign workers, with hymns and folk prayers in English in Malay, Tagalog and Tamil and a priest providing English translations of the Pope’s homily in Spanish.
“It’s a great honor,” said Bijoy Joseph, an Indian living in Saudi Arabia who was present. “It’s like a blessing for us to be part of our Holy Father’s papal Mass in Bahrain. “
Francis is making the first papal stop in Bahrain, an insular Sunni-ruled kingdom long New York off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The main objective is to participate in a government-sponsored interfaith convention Muslim Dialogue. But for the two days since, he has focused on ministering to the Catholic community, a minority in the country of about 1. 5 million.
In his homily at the stadium, Francis suggested the Catholic faithful do “even when we are hurt. “
“There will be moments of friction, moments of tension, conflicts and opposing points of view, but those who cling to the Prince of Peace will have to fight for peace. And peace cannot be restored if it is answered with a harsh word. with an even harsher word,” he said. No, we will have to ‘disarm’, break the chains of evil, break the spiral of violence and end resentment, judicial processes and self-pity. “
After Mass, Francis met with several hundred young people at the School of the Sacred Heart, which dates back to the 1940s and is affiliated with the church of the same name, which was the first Catholic church built in the Gulf. The school has more than 1200 students and university students of 29 other nationalities and devout groups, adding Muslims who study alongside Christians.
Teenagers with saris danced for him, former scholars presented testimonials, and scholars presented him with words or wishes in more than a dozen languages.
Francis suggested they forge a long path in which such friendly interfaith relations remain the norm. And then he gave private advice, saying that he too was a teenager and had never made an important decision alone.
“Before you seek advice online, look for smart counselors in life, other sensible and trustworthy people who can advise and help you,” he said, mentioning parents, grandparents or a religious consultant.
And then, returning to an exhortation from one of his first meetings with other young people as pope, Francis suggested scholars keep adults on guard.
“We want your creativity, your dreams and your courage, your charm and your smiles, your contagious joy and that touch of madness that you can bring to each and every situation,” he said. get out of there. ” of our outmoded behavior and repetitive tactics of seeing things.
Francis concludes his Sunday by gathering priests and nuns at the Church of the Sacred Heart.
___
The Associated Press policy is supported by AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with investments from Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is only guilty of this content.