SW News: The Holy Father Pope Francis returned to Rome after concluding his four-day Apostolic Visit to Bahrain on Sunday, November 6. The pontiff was given a formal farewell at Sakhir Airbase and it was attended by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, members of the cabinet and the Grand Mufti of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayyab.

The Holy Father and his entourage flew to Rome on a Gulf Air Boeing 787 around 4.45 local time. It was upon the invitation of the king that the pope made the visit to the Persian Gulf nation on November 3. During his visit, the pontiff took part in the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue which was attended by representatives of various religions from around the world. While addressing the conclusion of the forum, the pope urged religious leaders to be aware of their great responsibility to help a wounded humanity.

While addressing the Muslim Council of Elders on Friday, Pope Francis explained how genuine fraternity can save mankind. He also noted that the Muslim clerics also see in extremism a danger that erodes true religion and those who are committed to rebuffing erroneous interpretations of scripture. During his visit, the pope also spoke about religious freedom, the rights and dignity of women and children and peace in Ukraine, Yemen and Ethiopia. He also sought the abolition of the death penalty.

On Friday evening, the pope also took part in an interreligious prayer meeting at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia. It was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch Bartholomew of the Eastern Orthodox Church and representatives of the Coptic, Greek, Indian, Syrian and Armenian Orthodox Churches apart from the Anglican Church and the Church of South India. In his message, the pope spoke of how unity does not mean uniformity, but rather diversity.

One of the highlights of the visit was the Holy Mass offered in Bahrain National Stadium on Saturday morning. The Mass was attended by thousands from all over Bahrain and other neighboring countries. In his homily, he preached about the necessity of loving one’s neighbor as mandated by Jesus. He said, “If we need to become the children of God the Father and build a world where everyone is brothers and sisters, then the biggest challenge is learning how to love our enemies.”

On the same day, he also visited the Sacred Heart School run by the Apostolic Carmel sisters. Interacting with 1,000 students, the pope urged the youth to embrace a culture of care, saying that doing so entails cultivating an empathetic mindset within oneself that motivates compassion.

Before his departure on Sunday, the pontiff invited Bahrain's clergy and religious to preserve their God-given joy, to spread it everywhere, and to remember that with God, they can face and overcome anything.