RIFFA, Bahrain (AP) — About 30,000 flag-waving parishioners joined an outdoor Mass hosted by Pope Francis in predominantly Muslim Bahrain Saturday, the end of his Gulf outreach project.
Francis, who uses a wheelchair and cane because of knee problems, smiled and waved to the crowd from an open popemobile where he was sitting, flanked by more than a dozen security guards and aides.
“This same land is a living symbol of coexistence in diversity and makes it a symbol of our world, marked by the constant migration of peoples and the pluralism of ideas, customs and traditions,” he said in a speech.
During his visit to the UAE in 2019, he led a mass of 170,000 other people and signed a Christian-Muslim manifesto for peace.
He spent much of his four-day assembly in Bahrain with top officials and devout figures, but for Catholics in the small island nation, plus many migrant workers, Saturday’s Mass was the highlight.
“We’ve been here for an hour. We don’t sleep,” said volunteer Philomina Abranches, 46, a Bahraini resident of Indian descent.
“We are very excited. We all call him ‘daddy’. More than anything, it represents peace in the world. That’s what we want now. “
Heida is waiting for her moment to look at the pontiff.
“I saw it in church,” he said. I consider myself lucky to be able to see it. I was also able to take his hand and receive his blessing.
Many faithful came to see the pope from across the Gulf region, which is home to some two million Catholics, mostly foreign staff from South Asia and the Philippines.
Bahrain, like the United Arab Emirates, is considered a tolerant Arab nation.
However, NGOs continue to cite discrimination, repression and harassment in Bahrain through the Sunni elite opposing Shiites, repression of opposition figures and activists, and abuses.
A government spokesman said Tuesday that Bahrain “does not tolerate discrimination” and “prides itself on its values of tolerance. “
Said “no individual” is prosecuted “for his devout or political beliefs”, but stresses “the duty to investigate” others who “incite, promote or glorify violence or hatred”.
Everyone in the stadium won a plastic bag containing a white baseball cap, a Vatican paper flag, a bottle of water, a booklet with the main points of the Mass and cookies.
Pope Francis’ 39th overseas stop is largely aimed at building ties with Muslim leaders. of the Elderly.
Later Saturday, Francis will meet with the youth of Sacred Heart School.
On Sunday, he is scheduled to attend a prayer assembly at the 83-year-old Church of the Sacred Heart, the oldest in the world, before returning to Rome.
READ: Pope Francis in PH
By providing an email address. I accept the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
We use cookies to give you the most productive experience on our website. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. For more information, click on this link.