SW News: “Love always and love everyone,” said Pope Francis citing the Lord’s words in his homily preached during the Holy Mass he presided over at Bahrain National Stadium on Saturday, November 5.

The pontiff said that 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. “To love our enemies is to make this earth a reflection of heaven,” he told the thousands who had gathered there for the Mass in the morning.

He reminded everyone that Christ suffers when he sees oppression and violence, adding that the Lord wants everyone not to dream of an idealistic world of fraternity. Instead, to practice fraternity within ourselves and persevere in good even in the face of evil, Pope Francis said. Only then can the spiral of vengeance and violence be broken.

Thousands gathered in the National Stadium for the Holy Mass clutching Vatican flags which they waved with gusto as they cheered the Holy Father when he came to the venue in the popemobile. He blessed the crowds as he slowly made his way to the outdoor altar and made a few stops to bless some children. There were cheers and applause as the popemobile approached the altar. In the background, one could hear the 100-member multi-ethnic choir singing “Jesus Christ you are my life” in English, Tagalog, Arabic and Hindi.

The altar was set up on an outdoor covered platform that was semi-circular. In the background was a large host with rays of light emanating from it and it also had a large cross emblazoned on it. On one side of the altar was a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary carrying the Infant Jesus. Vested in cope and stole the pope presided over the Holy Mass, which was said in English by Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder with a few chants in Latin. Concelebrating the Mass were cardinals and archbishops who accompanied the Holy Father as well as visiting Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of various Oriental Catholic Churches.

In the Liturgy of the Word, the first reading was taken from the Book of Prophet Isaiah and it was read in Arabic. The responsorial psalm was Psalm 84 in English. The Gospel was taken from the Gospel of St Matthew Chapter 5 Verses 38 to 48.
The prayer of the faithful was in several languages representing the diversity of the community of believers in Bahrain. The first prayer was for the Holy Father and it was in Konkani, the language spoken in the western Indian state of Goa and the Konkan coast where there are large Catholic communities.

It was followed by a prayer for bishops, priests and religious which was read out in Malayalam, the language spoken in the south Indian state of Kerala, where a large chunk of the expatriate believers in Bahrain hail from. The third prayer for the authorities was in Tagalog, the mother tongue of the Filipino community. The fourth prayer in English was for people suffering from war, poverty and hunger.
The fourth prayer for the family was read out in Swahili, the language of East Africa. Then the final prayer for the departed souls was in Tamil, which is spoken in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Sanctus and Agnus Dei were intoned in Latin. And during the Communion Rite, the centuries-old Latin hymn Panis Angelicus (Bread of Angels) penned by St Thomas Aquinas was sung by the choir.
Before the final benediction, Bishop Paul Hinder thanked the Holy Father for visiting his “tiny flock in this tiny country” which is ethnically diverse. He also assured the prayers and loyalty of the believers in Bahrain and other parts of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. He also thanked the ruler of the country and the royal family for their benevolence. In return, the Holy Father presented him with a chalice as is the custom.