Catholics In Bahrain: A Significant Minority

Bahrain is an island kingdom in the Persian Gulf, comprising the islands of Al-Bahrain, Al-Muḥarraq, Sitra, and several smaller islands. In 2022, the country had a population of 1,410,942, 14.5% of whom were Christian, with almost 10% of the population being Catholic. This equates to approximately 161,000 Catholics, making it the largest Christian denomination in the country. The vast majority of Catholics in Bahrain are expatriates from countries such as India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and various Western countries.

The number of Catholics in Bahrain is around 80,000 to 161,000

The number of Catholics in Bahrain is estimated to be between 80,000 and 161,000. This number represents a significant portion of the country's total population, which is approximately 1.4 million people. The Catholic Church in Bahrain falls under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome and is a part of the worldwide Catholic Church.

The presence of Catholic communities in Bahrain is relatively recent, with the first Catholic church in the country being established in the 1930s. The Sacred Heart Church, located in Manama, was built in 1939 and is considered the oldest church in the region. It was constructed on land donated by the Emir of Bahrain, and it serves approximately 140,000 Catholics. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, located in Awali, is the largest Catholic church in the Arabian Peninsula and can accommodate 2,300 people.

The Catholic community in Bahrain is diverse, with members hailing from various countries and backgrounds. While the majority of Catholics in Bahrain are expatriates from India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and Western nations, there is also a small native Christian population. This local Christian community numbers around 1,000 people and consists mainly of Catholics who arrived in Bahrain between 1930 and 1950 and have since been granted Bahraini citizenship.

Bahrain has a long tradition of religious tolerance, and Christians, including Catholics, are allowed freedom of worship. This openness to interreligious dialogue is evident in the country's positive diplomatic relations with the Holy See, which were established in 1999. Pope Francis' visit to Bahrain in November 2022 further highlighted the country's commitment to religious coexistence and dialogue between faiths.

Most Catholics in Bahrain are expatriates from India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of islands in the Persian Gulf, lying about 13 miles east of Saudi Arabia. It is officially a Muslim country, with Islam as the state religion, and Sharia Law as the basis of its legal system. However, it has a long tradition of religious tolerance, and other religions are allowed freedom of worship.

The Catholic Church in Bahrain is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The first Catholic church built in the Persian Gulf in modern times was constructed in 1939 on land given by the Emir of Bahrain. This church, Sacred Heart Church, serves approximately 140,000 Catholics. In 2022, approximately 12% of the population were Christian, with almost 10% of the country's population being Catholic, making it the largest Christian denomination in Bahrain. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, located in Awali, is the largest Catholic church in the Arabian Peninsula.

Bahrain is one of the few Gulf states with a local Christian population, with about 1,000 native Christians, most of whom are Catholics who arrived between 1930 and 1950 and have been granted Bahraini citizenship. The country has a history of religious tolerance, with Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish places of worship coexisting alongside Christian churches.

The first Catholic church in Bahrain was built in 1939

The Kingdom of Bahrain is home to a significant Catholic population, with around 80,000 Catholics residing in the country as of 2022. This number represents a substantial portion of the country's overall Christian population, which stands at approximately 12% of the total population.

The presence of Christian communities in Bahrain is relatively recent and often linked to diplomatic staff and foreign companies and workers who began arriving in the early 1930s. The first Catholic church in Bahrain, the Sacred Heart Church, was built in 1939 in the capital, Manama. This construction marked a significant milestone, as it was the first Catholic church established in the Persian Gulf region during modern times.

The Sacred Heart Church stands as a testament to the country's long-standing tradition of religious tolerance. The Emir of Bahrain graciously donated the land for the church's construction, demonstrating an early commitment to interreligious dialogue and coexistence. This openness to different faiths is further evidenced by the presence of various non-Muslim places of worship, including Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist temples.

The establishment of the Sacred Heart Church in 1939 laid the foundation for the growth of the Catholic community in Bahrain. Initially, the congregation primarily consisted of Catholics from neighbouring Middle Eastern countries. However, following the oil boom in the region, thousands of Christian immigrants from Asia, particularly India and the Philippines, joined the flock.

Today, the majority of Catholics in Bahrain are expatriates, with a smaller number of native Christians who have been granted Bahraini citizenship. The completion of the Sacred Heart Church in 1939 was a pivotal moment in the history of Catholicism in Bahrain, paving the way for the continued presence and growth of the Catholic faith in the country.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia is the largest Catholic church in the Arabian Peninsula

The construction of the cathedral began in 2014, after King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa donated 9,000 square metres of land to the Catholic Church as a symbol of the Kingdom's commitment to tolerance and coexistence. The foundation stone was taken from the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter's in the Vatican and construction began with a ground-breaking ceremony in June 2018. The cathedral was designed by Italian architect Mattia Del Prete and Cristiano Rosponi and its shape resembles a tent, alluding to the "tent of meeting" described in the Old Testament.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia serves as the seat of the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia and is dedicated to Our Lady of Arabia, a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus. Masses are conducted in various languages, including English, Arabic, Tagalog, Malayalam, and Konkani, reflecting the diverse population of expatriates in Bahrain.

The presence of the cathedral in Bahrain is significant as it is located in a region where churches face significant limitations and hardline clerics have opposed its construction. However, the country has a tradition of religious tolerance, allowing freedom of worship for Christian communities and other religions. The construction of the cathedral demonstrates Bahrain's commitment to interfaith dialogue and its desire to promote unity within the Christian community.

Pope Francis visited Bahrain in November 2022

Pope Francis visited Bahrain from the 3rd to the 6th of November 2022, marking the first papal visit to the nation. This trip was Pope Francis' 39th Apostolic Journey abroad and the second papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula, following his visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2019. The visit was accepted at the invitation of Bahrain's civil and ecclesial authorities and occurred on the occasion of the "Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence."

The Catholic community in Bahrain has grown significantly over the years, with the country establishing the Gulf's first church in the 1930s. The majority of Catholics in Bahrain are expatriates from countries such as India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and Western nations. The nation is known for its religious tolerance, allowing freedom of worship for Christian communities and other religions despite Islam being the official religion.

During his four-day visit, Pope Francis participated in several significant events. On the first day, he departed from Rome's Fiumicino International Airport and arrived at Sakhir Air Base in Awali, where he was greeted with an official welcome ceremony. He then proceeded to the Sakhir Royal Palace, where he paid a courtesy visit to the King of Bahrain, followed by a welcome ceremony and meetings with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps.

On the second day, the Pope presided over the closing ceremony of the interfaith "Bahrain Forum for Dialogue" at Al-Fida' Square of the Sakhir Royal Palace. He held private meetings with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the members of the Muslim Council of Elders at the Mosque of the Sakhir Royal Palace. Later, he attended an ecumenical meeting and prayer for peace at Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral.

On the third day, the Pope celebrated Holy Mass at the Bahrain National Stadium, with a multinational choir singing in various languages, including English, Tagalog, Arabic, Hindi, and Latin. He also held a meeting with the youth at Sacred Heart School.

The final day of the visit included a prayer meeting and Angelus with bishops, priests, consecrated persons, seminarians, and pastoral workers at the Sacred Heart Church in Manama. The Pope then departed from the Sakhir Air Base in Awali, concluding his historic visit to Bahrain.

This visit by Pope Francis to Bahrain held great significance, fostering interreligious dialogue and promoting peace and coexistence between different faiths in the region.

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