![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOWROTE37NAFXI4NYPPLKS4FPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f193bd31a401354dbca8e95a3c698033f88e650ac220378e07b79a4139e12dce&width=400&height=225)
The chapel at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KURS5XJUTZFPJFBS4TAED3G6FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f7da2d616d336dcf3dc512452d73bbebde3d34181511636691b1b29c21f6179&width=400&height=225)
Choir members pray before practice at the Scared Heart Catholic Church in Manama, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZ4PTQH3YRGJNH7T3DMBPRFNN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=25ebb525fd9adfb67b566056db60e95b7f1fc7156c5ca7b6ed567a2216a70330&width=400&height=225)
Choir practice at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manama, Bahrain.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QTBOZEKPGRFEVHLDP7KBTBXQLE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a6d9761811a4e0a70efccaf53439439f1e33a95667f56910d971185505728ff&width=400&height=225)
Souvenirs for sale before Pope Francis's visit to Bahrain in November.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QLCGCWVV75HGPDQH6PNBO4OU6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d46a043267f0b9ce6e1630fa753d63d874ed615a5d4f400d0e36ad6aa193f78&width=400&height=225)
Walter Braganza, head of choir, directing practice for the pope's visit.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5YKDQNLZJF2NFIWGDO6Y2ONJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=089ecd5b65d53fe59d204a9cdbe9b2791ff89a9ed17b38c4beafac49f4bdb375&width=400&height=225)
Choir members at practice.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H3LGO7UCT5FPDLU5YGZY2NHVKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=38eba264ddfb3eb596d36ff58b0808c7aed809d3b5e7c6af2d7a222febd057c2&width=400&height=225)
A souvenir to commemorate the pope's visit next month.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34CPCXIN2NAQ5H6XZIVEXV3KD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=858f5394356376ff969202712b9714b02347f5d1a5742b0e94a90e4161ca44c9&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis is making a four-day visit to Bahrain.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FPXWNL3MH5BWVBVDFO22NWTBOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=02c554e2ae7f923da44bd6c10cf7488cdae2fd75213e4258d264dd62252d7bf1&width=400&height=225)
Choir practice in Manama.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QF3TNUZ6XRF53FYVFYEOXLKO6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=097a9722344b371c601c4e106b84d9a03bd021f69d1e110c7274d2771fb6c801&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis will hold a Mass on November 5 in the city.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GGLDQRVFM5EGJNICYZNKT37FUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=93a52a97ae85d7e3e722ec7ea8593f2ca04ac48cca392a1f0bcd192205c125f1&width=400&height=225)
Musicians practise for the pope's visit.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O4BKQZEXWFF6LPSNYWJ42XDLQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7f5e9f637e4496b1a7c86f34a6785abec4612cef3020aa1ab57bf96affc71b4&width=400&height=225)
Walter Braganza, head of choir, leading a practice session.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQTYEPC7A5FB5C2QGKWGABB2LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=45ee776bcfe3bb12f087080737fc4a4c65c7bf1d33c38e386cd639f5d9a12259&width=400&height=225)
Choir members pray before practice.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J7NUE2XIWZCS3CWQOJCYNANDRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0587203c2903f6e163498b722608d1dc99899d06bad5751cf59a8faba8a14769&width=400&height=225)
Clockwise, from left, Savion Pinto, 10, Honan Semona, 5, Jeff Fernandes, 5 and Evanka Sequeira, 4, with signs they made to welcome the pope to Manama.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6BTCZDMX4JAZNM2LYLWIKUTQ4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb038ad3dd5c5e4dacbb8784c458de58be2b7d1ae1a0ed739d80a33a7c81df10&width=400&height=225)
Sacred Heart is the oldest church in the region.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IVHQEM57FCOFFSNYHM3UCBNEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=eddd8225d859a1a1fedb89b9ddb6f0944c1835763c2ac93ed3d39d7b8f08c6e6&width=400&height=225)
Jeff Fernandes and Evanka Sequeira with the signs they made to welcome Pope Francis.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOWROTE37NAFXI4NYPPLKS4FPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f193bd31a401354dbca8e95a3c698033f88e650ac220378e07b79a4139e12dce&width=400&height=225)
The chapel at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KURS5XJUTZFPJFBS4TAED3G6FQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f7da2d616d336dcf3dc512452d73bbebde3d34181511636691b1b29c21f6179&width=400&height=225)
Choir members pray before practice at the Scared Heart Catholic Church in Manama, Bahrain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KZ4PTQH3YRGJNH7T3DMBPRFNN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=25ebb525fd9adfb67b566056db60e95b7f1fc7156c5ca7b6ed567a2216a70330&width=400&height=225)
Choir practice at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manama, Bahrain.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QTBOZEKPGRFEVHLDP7KBTBXQLE.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a6d9761811a4e0a70efccaf53439439f1e33a95667f56910d971185505728ff&width=400&height=225)
Souvenirs for sale before Pope Francis's visit to Bahrain in November.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QLCGCWVV75HGPDQH6PNBO4OU6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d46a043267f0b9ce6e1630fa753d63d874ed615a5d4f400d0e36ad6aa193f78&width=400&height=225)
Walter Braganza, head of choir, directing practice for the pope's visit.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5YKDQNLZJF2NFIWGDO6Y2ONJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=089ecd5b65d53fe59d204a9cdbe9b2791ff89a9ed17b38c4beafac49f4bdb375&width=400&height=225)
Choir members at practice.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H3LGO7UCT5FPDLU5YGZY2NHVKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=38eba264ddfb3eb596d36ff58b0808c7aed809d3b5e7c6af2d7a222febd057c2&width=400&height=225)
A souvenir to commemorate the pope's visit next month.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34CPCXIN2NAQ5H6XZIVEXV3KD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=858f5394356376ff969202712b9714b02347f5d1a5742b0e94a90e4161ca44c9&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis is making a four-day visit to Bahrain.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FPXWNL3MH5BWVBVDFO22NWTBOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=02c554e2ae7f923da44bd6c10cf7488cdae2fd75213e4258d264dd62252d7bf1&width=400&height=225)
Choir practice in Manama.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QF3TNUZ6XRF53FYVFYEOXLKO6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=097a9722344b371c601c4e106b84d9a03bd021f69d1e110c7274d2771fb6c801&width=400&height=225)
Pope Francis will hold a Mass on November 5 in the city.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GGLDQRVFM5EGJNICYZNKT37FUM.jpg?smart=true&auth=93a52a97ae85d7e3e722ec7ea8593f2ca04ac48cca392a1f0bcd192205c125f1&width=400&height=225)
Musicians practise for the pope's visit.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O4BKQZEXWFF6LPSNYWJ42XDLQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7f5e9f637e4496b1a7c86f34a6785abec4612cef3020aa1ab57bf96affc71b4&width=400&height=225)
Walter Braganza, head of choir, leading a practice session.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQTYEPC7A5FB5C2QGKWGABB2LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=45ee776bcfe3bb12f087080737fc4a4c65c7bf1d33c38e386cd639f5d9a12259&width=400&height=225)
Choir members pray before practice.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J7NUE2XIWZCS3CWQOJCYNANDRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0587203c2903f6e163498b722608d1dc99899d06bad5751cf59a8faba8a14769&width=400&height=225)
Clockwise, from left, Savion Pinto, 10, Honan Semona, 5, Jeff Fernandes, 5 and Evanka Sequeira, 4, with signs they made to welcome the pope to Manama.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6BTCZDMX4JAZNM2LYLWIKUTQ4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb038ad3dd5c5e4dacbb8784c458de58be2b7d1ae1a0ed739d80a33a7c81df10&width=400&height=225)
Sacred Heart is the oldest church in the region.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IVHQEM57FCOFFSNYHM3UCBNEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=eddd8225d859a1a1fedb89b9ddb6f0944c1835763c2ac93ed3d39d7b8f08c6e6&width=400&height=225)
Jeff Fernandes and Evanka Sequeira with the signs they made to welcome Pope Francis.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOWROTE37NAFXI4NYPPLKS4FPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f193bd31a401354dbca8e95a3c698033f88e650ac220378e07b79a4139e12dce&width=400&height=225)
The chapel at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Pope's visit to Bahrain: 100-strong choir to sing in English, Arabic, Tagalog and Hindi
Choristers will perform as the pontiff enters Bahrain National Stadium
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
24 October, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic