By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

AWALI, Bahrain (CNS) — Traveling as a “sower of peace” to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Pope Francis further strengthened ties with the Muslim world and witnessed the joy and vitality of its minority and predominately expatriate Christian population.

His message promoting the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and ethnicities also included the wider Persian Gulf region, which is also increasingly more diverse due to growing communities of migrant workers, who constitute a significant percentage of the population.

The 85-year-old pope’s visit to Bahrain Nov. 3-6 was his 39th international trip in nearly 10 years as pope and his 13th trip to a Muslim-majority nation, reflecting his deep commitment to interreligious dialogue and the need to work together to face today’s global challenges and moral crises.

The pope’s first stop in Awali Nov. 3 was Sakhir Palace, home of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the royal family.

Meeting with authorities, members of the diplomatic corps and local representatives at the palace, the pope said, “The numerous national, ethnic and religious groups that coexist in Bahrain testify that we can and must live together in our world.”

He commended the kingdom’s efforts to promote mutual respect, tolerance and religious freedom. However, he said more should be done to: offer equal opportunities to all groups and individuals; counter discrimination; protect immigrant workers; guarantee human rights; and abolish the death penalty.

The following day was the busiest for the pope, whose chronic knee pain had worsened, keeping him in a wheelchair when he needed to move around and seeing him stand only briefly with a cane for support.

Pope Francis helped close the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence, an event sponsored by the king, Nov. 4 in Al-Fida’ Square at the palace.

Riding in a compact white Fiat with Vatican City plates, the pope was accompanied through the lush green oasis of the palace’s walled compound by royal guards on horseback. The pope was then invited to pour water from a metal pitcher onto the base of a large palm tree.

He told representatives of different religions and international leaders that “it is our duty to encourage and assist our human family,” especially those who are neglected by the powerful: the poor, the unborn, the elderly, the infirm and migrants.

God wants his children to be “one family, not islands, but one great archipelago,” like Bahrain, the pope said. The world can “only advance by rowing together; if we sail alone, we go adrift.”

Later in the day in the courtyard of the palace’s mosque, the pope addressed Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar mosque and university, and top representatives of the Muslim Council of Elders, an international group of Islamic scholars and experts.

He encouraged those working to avoid divisions and conflicts in Muslim communities, to promote mutual respect, tolerance and moderation, and to dispel “erroneous interpretations that, through violence, misconstrue, exploit and do a disservice to religious belief.”

“The God of peace never brings about war, never incites hatred, never supports violence,” he said. Peace is built with “encounter, patient negotiations and dialogue,” and it is based on justice.

Prayer and fraternity “are our weapons,” Pope Francis said, again condemning the world’s arms trade, calling it “the ‘commerce of death’ that, through ever-increasing outlays, is turning our common home into one great arsenal.”

“Unity in diversity and witness of life” was the central theme of the pope’s talk at Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the Persian Gulf region, for an ecumenical meeting and a prayer for peace. Many local Christians and Catholics were in attendance as well as King Al Khalifa, Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and other dignitaries.

The new cathedral serves the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and, formally, Saudi Arabia, and was built in response to the Gulf region’s increasing Catholic population, now estimated at 2.5 million.

The pope traveled Nov. 5 to Bahrain National Stadium to celebrate Mass for the more than 20,000 foreign residents working in Bahrain and thousands more from neighboring countries, all together representing more than 100 different nationalities.

“This very land is a living image of coexistence in diversity, and indeed an image of our world,” the pope said in his homily.

He encouraged the faithful to live as “children of the Father and build a world of brothers and sisters.” They must “learn how to love everyone, even our enemies,” and find the courage to take the risk of overcoming evil with good.

That evening he went to Sacred Heart School, whose 1,215 students represent 29 different nationalities, cultures, languages and religious backgrounds. A choir treated the pope to Christian songs and another group of boys and girls showcased a traditional Bahraini dance.

The pope praised their enthusiasm and openness, saying, “As I look out at you, who are not all of the same religion and are not afraid of being together, I think that without you this coexistence of differences would not be possible.”

On his last day Nov. 6 in the kingdom, the pope prayed and spoke with bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and pastoral workers from the Persian Gulf region at Sacred Heart Church in Manama.

Again, he pressed the need for Catholics in the region to be guardians and builders of unity, reaching out to dialogue with others and living as brothers and sisters.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

MANAMA, Bahrain (CNS) — Seek to be guardians and builders of unity, reaching out to dialogue with others and living as brothers and sisters, Pope Francis told the Catholic faithful and their bishops and priests from throughout the Persian Gulf.

And, he said, be prophetic, attentive “interpreters of reality, capable of perceiving God’s presence amid the frequently obscure course of history and making it known to the people.”

“The words of the prophets are often scathing: they call by name the evil designs lurking in the hearts of the people; they call into question false human and religious certainties, and they invite everyone to conversion,” the pope said Nov. 6, his final day in Bahrain.

The pope thanked Sister Rose Celine, a member of the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel, for her testimony about her congregation’s work in girls’ education, faith formation and prison ministry.

People should be grateful for the works of mercy carried out for those in prison, the pope said, bringing them consolation, “sharing time with them, breaking open the word of God and praying with them.”

“Caring for prisoners is good for everyone, as a human community, since the way in which these ‘least ones’ are treated is a measure of the dignity and the hope of a society,” he told the small crowd, which included Bahrain’s minister of justice.

As he did throughout his visit, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of the unity of Bahrain’s diverse Catholic community, made up mostly of foreign workers.

“I know that you are already offering a good example of walking this path, but fraternity and communion are gifts that we must never tire of imploring from the Spirit,” he said. “In this way, we can fend off the enemy who always sows weeds.”

For the last stop of his four-day journey, Pope Francis chose to visit Sacred Heart Church, which was consecrated in 1939 and was the first church built in a Gulf nation. The bishops, priests, religious men and women, seminarians, catechists, volunteers and other lay faithful gathered there were representing about 60 priests and 2 million Catholics spread across four countries: Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Also present were Catholics representing Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.

In Bahrain, like other Muslim-majority countries, the weekend is Friday and Saturday; Sunday is the start of the work week, so Pope Francis celebrated his main public Mass Nov. 5 and led a prayer service and the recitation of the Angelus with a smaller group in the Manama church the following day.

In his homily, the pope said it is the Holy Spirit “who refreshes our deserts and restores life to what is parched, who washes away all that soils us and quenches our thirst for happiness.”

Everything flows from the spirit, he said, and Christians must always pray for the Spirit’s gifts, such as joy, unity and prophecy, so that they may receive these gifts and reflect them in their lives.

To be prophetic is to receive the light of the Holy Spirit to become attentive and capable interpreters of reality, making God’s presence known to the people, the pope said.

“Prophecy makes us capable of putting the beatitudes into practice in everyday situations, building meekly, yet resolutely God’s kingdom, in which love, justice and peace are opposed to every form of selfishness, violence and degradation,” he said.

Bishop Paul Hinder, administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, told the pope about the joyful yet also difficult life of a “migrant church.” Coming from many different countries and ethnicities, “many are struggling daily, but they do so with deep faith,” trusting in the Lord.

The 1,300 catechists throughout the region all work as volunteers, “sometimes under very difficult conditions because of the restrictions in some countries regarding religious freedom, work permits and residency permits,” Bishop Hinder said.

However, they are also deeply aware of God’s presence with them and are “grateful for several positive experiences and encounters in unexpected places,” he said.

Pope Francis said the Holy Spirit offers Christians the joy of being with God, “knowing that despite the struggles and dark nights that we sometimes endure, we are not alone, lost or defeated, because he is with us.”

The Holy Spirit is a wellspring of unity, making everyone a child of God and brothers and sisters to one another, he said. “There can no longer be room for the works of the flesh, acts of selfishness, such as factions, quarrels, slander and gossip,” or ethnic, cultural and ritual differences.

The Holy Spirit breaks down the barriers of distrust and hate, he said, and “frees us from fear and instills the courage to go out and meet others with the unarmed and disarming force of mercy.”

“Let us seek to be guardians and builders of unity,” Pope Francis said. “In order to be credible when we dialogue with others, let us live in fraternity among ourselves.”

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

AWALI, Bahrain (CNS) — Everyone needs help to mature and to grow as a person of faith, Pope Francis told young people in Bahrain, so reach out to someone a bit older and wiser and don’t forget to pray.

“Before you go to the Internet for advice, always seek out good counselors in life, wise and reliable people who can guide and help you,” like parents, grandparents, teachers, the elderly and a good spiritual guide, the pope told students at Sacred Heart School in Awali Nov. 5.

“Each of us needs to be accompanied on the road of life!” he told them.

And turn to God, who is always there, waiting “for you to ask him to give you a hand,” the pope said.

The principal of the Sacred Heart School told Pope Francis that the schools’ 1,215 students from 29 different nationalities, cultures, languages and religious backgrounds were a “miniature symbol” of the peaceful co-existence and culture of care he has called for.

“Your presence here with us will surely raise awareness about our cultural diversity and shared beliefs, as well as our commitment to establish a vibrant and respectful society for present and future generations,” Sister Roselyn Thomas, a member of the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel, told the pope.

Students filled the gym and areas outside the school; some were wearing clothing traditional to their culture or religion. As the pope entered, a choir sang, “All are welcome in this place.”

In the 74 years since the sisters founded the school in Bahrain, “you have been its most treasured and most revered guest,” Sister Thomas told him.

Another honored guest was school alumnus, Lt. Abdulla Attiya. A member of the Bahrain Royal Guards, he broke a world record in December last year, running a marathon in full military gear in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 7 seconds, which also got him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

“I can be a champion on the field but what really matters is becoming a champion off the field,” he told the pope. Despite all the hard work, sacrifice, success and medals, he said, he realized the “trophies will eventually rust. It’s friendship and fraternity that will last forever.”

As a Muslim at the school, he said he had “the opportunity to celebrate Christmas, Diwali and many other heart-warming feasts … with no discrimination if one participated in the other’s happiness.”

Speaking on behalf of all young people in Bahrain, Nevin Varghese Fernandez told the pope that growing up as a Catholic in Bahrain “was risk-free and secure, as we are blessed to be living in a country that promotes and supports various religions.”

“Living as a Catholic in a predominantly Muslim country is very joyful as we are surrounded by people of faith who share the same values, and the church has given us a good foundation,” he said.

Young Catholics, he said, are grateful for the church’s support and the “heroic examples of people risking their lives for the faith.”

He told the pope his visit “gives us strength and encourages us in our Catholic identity.”

Merina Joseph Motha also told the pope of the strength her Catholic faith and community have given her.

“Believe in God and believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place,” she said.

However, she asked for the pope’s advice “to help us combat social issues such as anxiety, stress, bullying and peer pressure.”

The pope responded, “My advice is to press forward without fear, but never go it alone!”

God “wants to help you distinguish what is essential from what is superfluous, what is good from what is harmful to you and to others, what is just from what leads to injustice and disorder,” he said.

Cultivate a life of prayer, he said, and trust that the Lord “constantly watches out for us and keeps us safe.”

The pope told young people that the church and world “need your creativity, your dreams and your courage, your charm and your smiles, your contagious joy and that touch of craziness that you can bring to every situation.”

The gathering included the young people’s prayers with six students reading appeals in their native languages. They prayed: that world leaders would be moved “so that love and peace may once again prevail in all lands”; that educators help young people “bring light where there is darkness, love where there is hatred” and work diligently for truth and justice; that those online and using social media be protected “from all dangers lurking in the world today”; that and those facing addiction or exploitation may find the way to a better life.

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

AWALI, Bahrain (CNS) — Bahrain’s National Stadium became an oasis of multiple cultures, languages, nationalities and backstories, all united by their Catholic faith and to celebrate Mass with Pope Francis.

“This very land is a living image of coexistence in diversity, and indeed an image of our world, increasingly marked by the constant migration of peoples and by a pluralism of ideas, customs and traditions,” the pope said in his homily Nov. 5.

Thousands of people from all over the world who live and work in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries came by bus or car to the huge stadium in Awali for the Mass.

“Raised a Catholic, this is an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Leana Mapie.

The pope’s visit is important not only for local Catholics but is also “a huge step for the Middle East,” she said. “Building a foundation with other cultures is the right direction.”

Mapie, originally from California, and her husband Alec Dahlquist, originally from Idaho, have been stationed at the U.S. Navy base in the Kingdom of Bahrain for the past three months and have another few more months to go, they told Catholic News Service.

“It’s cool to see all the different religions and cultures come together” throughout Bahrain, which is tremendously diverse, Dahlquist said.

Bahrain’s National Communication Center said people from 111 countries were present for the Mass.

A Muslim-majority nation, Bahrain has a population of around 1.5 million people, about half of whom are foreign workers from all over the world. About 9% are Christian and others come from the Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish faiths. The church estimates there are about 80,000 Catholics in Bahrain and a total of 2.5 million Catholics throughout the Gulf region.

Nishma Pereira and her husband Jaison Sequeira are from Mangalore, India, and have been living in Bahrain for four years. They are active members of Manama’s Sacred Heart Church, which was inaugurated in 1939 and where the pope is scheduled to go Nov. 6, his last day in Bahrain.

“We are blessed. It’s the first time for us to see the pope,” Pereira said.

The pope “is a man of peace for governments, people, everyone. He spreads peace,” Sequeira said.

The stadium, which seats 28,000 people, erupted with joy when the pope emerged, standing in the popemobile.

The speaker on stage said history was unfolding before their eyes: “God bless the Kingdom of Bahrain, God bless the king, God bless the royal family, God bless every one of us. Praise God,” said the unidentified speaker. It was the first time a pope had visited this Gulf nation.

Tears came to Jinson Puthussesy’s eyes as the pope passed right in front of him. From Kerala, India, he has been in Bahrain for 10 years, runs a small business and belongs to the Sacred Heart parish.

“I am very happy. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” he told CNS, in awe that he had been invited to move from a seating section out of view of the altar to a VIP area to see the pope up close.

Pope Francis thanked all those present for their “gentle and joyful witness to fraternity, for your being seeds of love and peace in this land.”

“If we want to be children of the Father and build a world of brothers and sisters, the real challenge is to learn how to love everyone, even our enemies,” he told the crowd.

Jesus tells his disciples to find the courage to take the risk of overcoming evil with good, he said.

Jesus does not want people “to dream idealistically of a world of fraternity, but to choose, starting with ourselves, to practice universal fraternity, concretely and courageously, persevering in good even when evil is done to us, breaking the spiral of vengeance, disarming violence, demilitarizing the heart,” Pope Francis said.

It is not easy to “love always” like Christ, and he knows people struggle with relationships and within their own heart, the pope said. “He also knows that, for all our generous efforts, we do not always receive the good we expect and indeed sometimes, incomprehensibly, we suffer evil.”

Jesus, too, suffers “when he sees in our own day and in many parts of the world, ways of exercising power that feed on oppression and violence, seeking to expand their own space by restricting that of others, imposing their own domination and restricting basic freedoms, and in this way oppressing the weak,” the pope said.

“The power of Jesus is love,” he said. “Jesus gives us the power to love in this way,” which is a grace that must be “implored insistently: ‘Jesus, you who love me, teach me to love like you. Jesus, you who forgive me, teach me to forgive like you.'”

At the end of Mass, Bishop Paul Hinder, administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, thanked the pope for his “pastoral care for a tiny church in a tiny country.”

“Like your patron St. Francis of Assisi, you are not afraid to build bridges with the Muslim world and to show your fraternal closeness to all people of goodwill,” said the bishop, who is a Capuchin Franciscan.

“We Christians in the Middle East,” he said, “try to implement the invitation of St. Francis to his brothers to ‘live spiritually among the Muslims … not to engage in arguments and (simply) to acknowledge that (we) are Christians.'”