SW News: Scripting a new chapter in peaceful coexistence and religious harmony in the Middle East, the ruler of the Kingdom of Bahrain His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa will open the largest church in the Arabian Peninsula on December 9. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, which stands on a 9,000 square meter plot of land donated by the ruler, will be the center of pastoral activities of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia that comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to SW News, project head of the construction of the cathedral Fr Saji Thomas, a Capuchin priest from India, said that representing Pope Francis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Apostolic Nuncio to Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain Archbishop Eugene Nugent; and administrator of the Vicariate Bishop Paul Hinder will be present during the civil ceremony on December 9 morning when His Majesty the King opens the cathedral.

“His Majesty will be welcomed by Cardinal Tagle, the nuncio, priests, office bearers of the parish and 100 believers and he will be ceremoniously led inside,” said Fr Thomas.

“Once inside, Cardinal Tagle will present His Majesty with a glowing crystal globe symbolizing ‘peace’ and he would place it on a special stand. The moment he places the crystal globe on the stand, four other crystal orbs symbolizing ‘love’, ‘humanity’, ‘faith’ and ‘hope’ will automatically be illuminated. This symbolically marks the opening of the new cathedral,” said the priest, adding that royal family members, government officials and other dignitaries will attend the event.

He told SW News that the religious edifice symbolizes the munificence of the ruler of the country and it is the zenith of coexistence between Catholics and Muslims in the Islamic nation. Fr Thomas said Catholics are thankful to the ruler for not only donating the plot but also providing help during the construction of the edifice.

According to Fr Thomas, the consecration of the main altar and the blessing of the cathedral will be held on December 10 morning in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Tagle.

He recollected how this project was the dream of late Bishop Camillo Ballin, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia, who had very close ties with His Majesty. On May 19, 2014, during a visit to the Vatican, the Bahrain ruler met Pope Francis and gifted him a 3-foot scale model of the cathedral as a symbol of his commitment to foster peace and harmony. In return, His Holiness gifted King Hamad bin Isa Salman Al-Khalifa with the Medallion of the Angel of Peace, symbolizing peace and solidarity.

During the ceremony, Cardinal Tagle will thank His Majesty for his benevolence on behalf of the Holy See. The nuncio will then present the ruler with a memento signifying the warm ties between the Vatican and Bahrain. The architects, contractors and others who were closely associated with the project will be feted on the occasion. Members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries will take part in the glittering ceremony.

Fr Thomas, who is the vicar of Awali church who oversaw the construction, said that the cathedral can accommodate 2,300 believers and it has two side chapels as well as a spacious parking lot.

Meanwhile, His Majesty has invited Pope Francis to visit the Kingdom. The invitation was conveyed to the Holy Father by Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the King’s adviser on diplomatic affairs, when he was granted an audience by the pope at the Vatican on November 25.