Vatican:

Pope Francis met with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. They discussed the latest global developments, including the war between Israel and Hamas.

During the customary gift-exchanging ceremony, the Holy Father presented the Bahraini King with his pontificate medals, a bronze olive branch, and his message for this year's International Day of Peace, the Document on Human Fraternity, and a book embodying the Pope's special prayer in St. Peter's Square in the time of the pandemic. Al Khalifa presented the pontiff with a crystal bowl holding a watch with perfumes, a photo album about Pope Francis' visit to Bahrain, and a book about Bahrain's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Arabs.

The king also met Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. Al Khalifa's visit comes nearly a year after the Holy Father visited Bahrain.

The Holy Father also recalled his visit to Bahrain in November 2022. Following his return from his Apostolic Journey, the Pope spoke about his visit to the General Audience, describing it as one of "dialogue and fraternity in a world afflicted by division and conflict." He said that the purpose of his visit was "dialogue, encounter, and journey" and that "dialogue is in fact 'the oxygen of peace', opening minds and hearts to encounter and breaking down the walls of violence and division." He was the first Pope to visit Bahrain.

At the Sakhir Palace, he met with the local government officials and the diplomatic community. The Imam of Al-Azhar and representatives of the Islamic Council of Sheikhs met him during his apostolic visit. Pope Francis had offered an interfaith prayer for peace in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Arabs while he was there. The mass was celebrated at the Bahrain National Stadium. Bishops, priests, consecrated individuals, seminarians, and pastoral staff prayed the Angelus at Manama.