SW News: Sr. Maria Nirmalini, superior general of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation, expressed her happiness over the Pope visiting Bahrain's sole Catholic school, which is administered by five of her sisters in Awali.

She said to be “apostolic we need to be grounded in spirituality”. The Apostolic Carmel runs the Sacred Heart School in Isa Town. The school is affiliated with the Sacred Heart Church in Manama.

Her convent works in numerous nations where Catholics are a minority, including India, where Apostolic Carmel Sisters operate health services and education.

"There should not be a disparity between Catholics, Hindus, Muslims or any other religion which exists in the world. We should be one in the Lord," she said, stressing on the message of fraternity that the Pope gave during one of his speeches in Bahrain.

She expressed joy about finally being able to be in his presence and see him "with my own eyes," saying that Pope Francis "has always been such an inspiration to me, especially in the way he feels for the poor, the oppressed, and the people who are forgotten."

Sister Maria upholds the lovely illustration of a tree that Pope Francis used in his first address after arriving in Bahrain. He spoke of the "Tree of Life," whose roots need to be deep in order to collect nutrients from the earth, and which has thrived in a "desert environment with very little rainfall thanks to its deep roots."

According to legends in the area, the Tree of Life was first planted around 1583. The tree is still standing today. It has vibrant, green foliage and is really robust. It grows on a tiny sand mound that looms majestically above the arid desert and can be seen for miles.

Meanwhile, many Catholic Sisters working in the Gulf who flocked to Bahrain to be with the Pope on his 39th Apostolic Journey abroad were happy to take back the message of peace and hope to their respective communities.

Sr. Jacinta Cuditha from the congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chambery, who are based in Dubai, said the Holy Father's visit is a blessing for all of the people in the Gulf as it creates a bond between the Catholics and all the religions of the world.

Another sister who traveled to Bahrain from the UAE is Sr. Surin Sulah, a Carmelite nun from Kerala in India. Her order, she says, has been working in Abu Dhabi's Saint Joseph School as well as in the city's cathedral, for almost 47 years.