Follow the latest news on Pope Francis' visit to Bahrain
Pope Francis gave a unique medal to Bahrain's King Hamad that records the ancient connections and deep bond between the people of the country and the Catholic Church.
Designed by an Italian artist, the work has an image of the Bahrain's “tree of life”, a majestic acacia that has survived in the desert for 400 years with little water.
The roots of the tree frame an archaeological site in Bahrain that was the capital of Dilmun, a kingdom that flourished thousands of years ago.
At the centre of the coin is the statue of Our Lady of Arabia that was recently erected in a cathedral of the same name in Awali, near Bahrain’s capital Manama.
The cathedral was built on land donated by King Hamad.
Sacred Heart Church features on the right of the cathedral. It was the first Catholic church to be built in the region, in the late 1930s.
A Latin inscription commemorates the visit with the date of the Pope’s visit to Bahrain.
Pope Francis mentioned the popular tree as an “outstanding emblem of vitality” in his first speech in Bahrain on Thursday.
“The tree itself is a majestic acacia that has survived for centuries in a desert area with very little rainfall,” he said.
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Pope Francis, flanked by King Hamad and Bahrain's Prince Salman bin Hamad, left, delivers his speech during their meeting at the palace. EPA -
Pope Francis, centre, is escorted by Bahrain's King Hamad as he leaves the Royal Palace in the capital Manama. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Pope Francis talks with King Hamad as he leaves the palace. AP Photo -
A general view of the royal guard at the Royal Palace in the capital Manama. AFP -
The welcome ceremony in the courtyard of Sakhir Royal Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A marching band performs for Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Vatican clergy leave Sakhir Palace in Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Children welcome Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Pope Francis greets people at the palace. Reuters -
Pope Francis laughs during his meeting with King Hamad. Reuters -
The pontiff meets Bahraini officials after arriving in the country for a four-day visit. AP -
Pope Francis arrives at Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, in an electric Fiat. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Pope Francis arrives at Sakhir Palace. Reuters -
Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad arrives before Pope Francis's arrival in Manama. Reuters -
The audience waits for the arrival of Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A band performs traditional music on the road between the airport and the Royal Palace in Manama. AFP -
Schoolchildren prepare to welcome Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Pope Francis greets journalists onboard the flight from Rome to Manama. AFP -
Pope Francis boards a plane at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport on Thursday for his visit to Bahrain. AP -
An Airbus A330-202 with the Pope on board prepares to take off from Rome for the four-day trip to Bahrain. AFP -
Pope Francis, seated on a wheelchair, is lifted on a platform to board the plane. AFP
“It seems impossible that a tree of this age has been able to live and flourish in these conditions. According to many people, the secret is to be found in its roots, which extend for dozens of metres beneath the ground, drawing from subterranean deposits of water.”
The Pope then referred to Bahrain and its rich history of drawing people to the country because of the abundance of fresh water springs that gave it the reputation of being a paradise.
“The ancient kingdom of Dilmun was thus called ‘the land of the living,’” the Pope said.
He said the deep roots that spread over more than 4,500 years enriched the country and helped to make it a place that would attract people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
