‘This is my Pope’: why Pope Francis’s visit to Bahrain struck a chord around the world


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

In a quiet Bahrain school district, the evening stillness was broken by the noise of pupils cheering to greet Pope Francis during his landmark visit to the Gulf island nation.

Under shining golden stars strung up at the Sacred Heart School in Manama, more than 100 pupils waved flags and reached over red rope barriers to touch the Pope’s hand.

The spontaneity and enthusiasm of the people who gathered for hours to see the Pope was replayed in churches and homes across the country during his four-day visit last week.

His messages of peace, reconciliation, pleas to end war and for dialogue between Islam and Christianity went far beyond the kingdom's borders.

Sweeping national boundaries, it reached Catholics across the Middle East, Europe and Asia who scrolled news websites to listen to his words.

His urgent warnings to stop “playing with fire, missiles and bombs, weapons that bring sorrow and death” and address the “shameful scourge of hunger” struck home.

Emotional salve for the young

Teenagers from different faiths listened intently as the Pope spoke animatedly in Italian and his speeches were translated into English.

His words of support were like an emotional salve when he said he understood the challenges and complexities that adolescents face.

It was the Pope’s voice they had tuned into during the coronavirus pandemic through social media posts.

Seeing him in person gave many the strength to move forward.

“Since the pandemic, everyone has been so down with studies and life but with this meeting he has helped us to go ahead with our lives and motivated me to do more in future,” said Viyana Viju, 16, a pupil in Grade 10.

“He is my Pope, he gives advice like a father.

Pope Francis told school girls and boys to dream big, take risks and believe in themselves during a meeting with young people at the Sacred Heart School in Manama, Bahrain on November 5. EPA
Pope Francis told school girls and boys to dream big, take risks and believe in themselves during a meeting with young people at the Sacred Heart School in Manama, Bahrain on November 5. EPA

“We are at this age when we feel sad and lonely, we feel pressure, we lose confidence in ourselves and feel down.

“But he said the reality is that we don’t have to do it alone, that our parents and friends are there for us.

“He said we youth should never lose courage, dream big, that they needed our creativity and our smile.

“This made me want to change my perspective of life and do more.”

The Pope met with royals, ministers and diplomats and sought to further strengthen the bonds between two of the world’s major religions.

But it was the 85-year-old Pope’s direct connection with the public that was most striking in Bahrain.

There were magical moments for the young and old when Pope Francis, seated in a wheelchair, gave a thumbs-up sign to the crowd, clapped for them and moved his arms in time to the music when he spotted young dancers who had performed for him.

Turn the other cheek

The leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics lives up to his title “pontiff”, which means bridge builder.

This was only the second time that a Pope has visited the Gulf, three years after his historic visit to Abu Dhabi.

Bahraini banker Jamil Ghattas, 51, attended several papal events from November 3 to 6.

He was present when tumultuous shouts broke out when the Popemobile slowly drove into the Bahrain National Stadium as Pope Francis blessed babies and waved to 28,000 people gathered from the Gulf and overseas.

Crowds cheer as Pope Francis arrives for the public Mass at Bahrain National Stadium last week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Crowds cheer as Pope Francis arrives for the public Mass at Bahrain National Stadium last week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

“He is not a saint or a prophet but I’m a great believer in him because I respect him,” said Mr Ghattas who has lived in Bahrain since his Palestinian Catholic parents made it their home more than 50 years ago.

“He concentrates on youth and we need that because today we are a crossroads.

“We face social and political problems, we enter wars while this man of peace is asking religions to unite.

“He has extended his hand to countries to open dialogue as he wants to bring humans together.”

Mr Ghattas was stirred by the Pope’s messages to practice a life of harmony and break the spiral of violence.

During the homily at the stadium, the Pope spoke about the power of love and urged the faithful to go beyond the boundaries of family and nation to accept foreigners and those who hold other beliefs.

The doctrine of turning the other cheek resonated with Mr Ghattas.

“The message he is delivering is not that you should keep getting slapped but he is telling us to forgive,” he said.

“His tour of our region is very important because he speaks of living together and accepting your neighbour.

“This is the choice everyone must make.”

The people’s Pope

When the Pope spoke at the Sacred Heart Church, the oldest in the region, and the Lady of Arabia Cathedral, the largest in the Gulf, his lessons were relayed beyond those who bowed their head in prayer before him.

It has been a momentous time for the 80,000 Catholics in Bahrain, but Pope Francis’s voice also reached thousands more in other nations.

The Argentinian pontiff is regarded as the “people’s Pope” for his ability to connect with the sick, elderly, children and immigrants, perhaps more than any predecessor.

Even after Pope John Paul II made him cardinal in 2001, he continued to live in a small Buenos Aires flat and insisted on travelling by subway and bus.

Pope Francis greets young children at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Pope Francis greets young children at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

He was caring for people in the city's slums when Pope Benedict XVI retired from the papacy and he was named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013.

This enduring link with the less fortunate encourages an active Catholic global community to track his work.

From her home in Mumbai, Farida Farias, 74, has been forwarding news stories from Bahrain daily to hundreds of family and friends in India, the US and the UAE.

“People are so happy with the welcome he got in a Muslim country and that there was an incredible inter-religious atmosphere,” said the grandmother.

“It is fantastic that he made the trip being 80-plus and with all his health issues.

“He is so clearly connected to the poor and this shows from his foundation of being a priest, bishop and then pope.

“His travels to non-Christian countries to promote the message of peace and goodwill — that is something people will not forget.”

Fighting a culture of secrecy

The Pope has been criticised for not doing enough to act on the church’s darkest crisis, holding priests accountable for sexually abusing children they swore to protect.

There have been protests against a culture of secrecy with calls for transparency on reporting abuse and action taken.

Pope Francis denounced the “ugly habit” of covering up sexual abuse in the family, community and church, during an in-flight press conference when returning to Rome.

He spoke of the will of the church to change and said more cases would likely be brought to light.

Teenagers like Ms Viju wholeheartedly support openness in handling cases of abuse.

“Victims need someone they can rely on and trust. There should be counsellors in churches and schools so people who suffer abuse can be open,” she said.

“A victim feels like they are nothing, they feel ashamed. When the Pope speaks about it, people will understand it is OK to talk openly.”

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACECARD%20
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3E9pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Dirt)%202%2C000m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E9.30pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh70%2C000%20(D)%202%2C000m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E10pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Al%20Ain%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Prestige%20(PA)%20Dh100%2C000%20(D)%202%2C000m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E10.30pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(D)%201%2C800m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E11pm%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E11.30pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E12am%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

India squad for fourth and fifth Tests

Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari

Landfill in numbers

• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane

• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming

• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi

• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year

• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away

• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition

BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS

Biosafety Level 1

The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.

Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.

Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.

Used as teaching spaces.

Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.

Biosafety Level 2

These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.

Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.

Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1

Biosafety Level 3

These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.

Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.

Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.

Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.

Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.

Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.

Biosafety Level 4

The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.

All material must be decontaminated.

Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.

Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.

Entrance must be via airlocks.

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Race card

1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.

2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.

2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m.

3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m.

3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m.

4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m.

4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m.

The National selections:

1.45pm: Galaxy Road – So Hi Speed

2.15pm: Majestic Thunder – Daltrey

2.45pm: Call To War – Taamol

3.15pm: Eqtiraan - Bochart

3.45pm: Kidd Malibu – Initial

4.15pm: Arroway – Arch Gold

4.35pm: Compliance - Muqaatil

ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The chef's advice

Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.

“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”

Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.

The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.

The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20S%20Frederick%20Starr%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Oxford%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20290%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: November 12, 2022, 5:08 AM`