Pope meets with King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

By Thaddeus Jones

Pope Francis welcomed His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, and his entourage accompanying him to the Vatican on Monday, 16 October. The two leaders met with each other for just over 35 minutes late in the afternoon. 

The customary exchange of gifts took place with Pope Francis offering His Majesty a tryptic of the Pontificate medallions, an olive branch sculpture in bronze, this year's World Day of Peace message, the Document on Human Fraternity, and the Statio Orbis book of 27 March 2020.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa gave Pope Francis a crystal vase with a clock containing some aromas, a photographic volume on the Pope's visit to Bahrain last year, and a book on the construction of the new Cathedral in Bahrain.

Papal journey to Bahrain

Pope Francis visited the Kingdom of Bahrain almost one year ago from 3-6 November 2022.

Invited to visit the country by the King of Bahrain and the local Church, the Pope attended the “Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence” and met with the country’s small Catholic flock. His journey took place with the motto “Peace on earth to people of goodwill.” 

At the General Audience after his return from his Apostolic Journey, the Pope described the visit one of "dialogue and fraternity in a world afflicted by division and conflict."

He underscored that his visit was about "dialogue, encounter and journey" and how “dialogue is in fact 'the oxygen of peace', opening minds and hearts to encounter and breaking down the walls of violence and division."