The first day of the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Kingdom of Bahrain can be comprised of the Pope’s call for the peaceful coexistence of all peoples.
“Peace… as we welcome the Pope of the Vatican” was the leading newspaper headline in Bahrain.
The Pope’s first public speech was addressed to the civil authorities and diplomatic corps of Bahrain, but his message was much more global.
“May weapons be silenced!”
Three times he repeated that appeal, ending with an urgent cry for peoples everywhere to be committed to building peace.
Pope Francis visits the new church on Friday to hold an ecumenical prayer for peace, on the same day he joins around 200 religious leaders of different faiths for the closing session of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue.
Bahrain has enjoyed continuous human presence for over 4,500 years, as attested by ancient ruins of pagan temples.
In those centuries, the island has served as a place of encounter between peoples, a fact highlighted by the subtitle of the Bahrain Dialogue Forum: “East-West Dialogue for Human Coexistence”.
As the Pope begins this visit which he has said will be “interesting”, perhaps another important step will be taken in humanity’s long and arduous journey in the direction of peace.
(Adapted and edited from Vatican News)