In Bahrain, Our Lady of Arabia

In a few days, the first construction phase of a large cathedral, able to accommodate more than 2,000 faithful, will begin in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) a country with some 80,000 Catholics. According to Bishop Camillo Ballin, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia, the construction is expected to take four years. When completed in 2021, the cathedral will be placed under the protection of Our Lady of Arabia and will testify to the Christian presence on the Muslim soil of one of the most powerful oil monarchies.

While Islam largely dominates the political and religious landscape of Bahrain – it is the state religion and the Islamic Sharia is the source of all the law – the Christian population represents a little over 8%, and this figure is growing: in the countries covered by the Apostolic Vicariate (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait), Christian populations represent millions, says Bishop Ballin. For the most part, these Christians come from immigration, Filipinos in particular, but also from India. The population influx is due to the need of a large workforce in this country that has built its wealth on oil.

Our Lady of Arabia also has the ambition to become a center of spiritual formation. Priests may, for example, attend retreats or teach catechism classes. ...

This project responds to a real spiritual need, and is a sign of the Kingdom of Bahrain's openness to religious pluralism.

Aleteia