• Pope Francis on the flight back to Rome on Sunday, after his four-day journey to Bahrain. AFP
    Pope Francis on the flight back to Rome on Sunday, after his four-day journey to Bahrain. AFP
  • Pope Francis and Bahrain's King Hamad attend a farewell ceremony, on the last day of the Pope's visit to Bahrain. Reuters
    Pope Francis and Bahrain's King Hamad attend a farewell ceremony, on the last day of the Pope's visit to Bahrain. Reuters
  • Pope Francis, centre-left, meeting King Hamad, centre-right, with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar mosque Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, right, during the farewell ceremony at the Sakhir airbase in Awali. AFP
    Pope Francis, centre-left, meeting King Hamad, centre-right, with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar mosque Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, right, during the farewell ceremony at the Sakhir airbase in Awali. AFP
  • Pope Francis speaks at the Sacred Heart Church in the Bahraini capital, Manama. AFP
    Pope Francis speaks at the Sacred Heart Church in the Bahraini capital, Manama. AFP
  • Pope Francis at the Sacred Heart Church in Manama on the final day of his Bahrain visit. AFP
    Pope Francis at the Sacred Heart Church in Manama on the final day of his Bahrain visit. AFP
  • Pope Francis blesses a nun during a prayer meeting at the Manama church. AP
    Pope Francis blesses a nun during a prayer meeting at the Manama church. AP
  • Pope Francis waves to the congregation. AFP
    Pope Francis waves to the congregation. AFP
  • The scene at the Sacred Heart Church. Reuters
    The scene at the Sacred Heart Church. Reuters
  • Pope Francis arrives for a meeting and an Angelus prayer with bishops, priests, seminarians and pastoral workers at Manama's Sacred Heart Church. Reuters
    Pope Francis arrives for a meeting and an Angelus prayer with bishops, priests, seminarians and pastoral workers at Manama's Sacred Heart Church. Reuters
  • People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis. AFP
    People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis. AFP
  • People wave Vatican City flags before the pope's arrival at the Sacred Heart Church. Reuters
    People wave Vatican City flags before the pope's arrival at the Sacred Heart Church. Reuters
  • Pope Francis arrives for a meeting and a prayer service at the at Sacred Heart Church in Manama. Reuters
    Pope Francis arrives for a meeting and a prayer service at the at Sacred Heart Church in Manama. Reuters
  • Pope Francis is on the last day of his visit to Bahrain. Reuters
    Pope Francis is on the last day of his visit to Bahrain. Reuters

Gulf

Bahrain

Pope Francis concludes historic Bahrain visit and departs for Rome

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church celebrated Mass with tens of thousands of worshippers at Bahrain National Stadium

Rory Reynolds
Rory Reynolds

November 06, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Pope Francis attended a prayer service at Sacred Heart Church, Manama on Sunday morning, before concluding his milestone visit to Bahrain.

The leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics prayed with bishops, priests and pastoral workers around 9.30am local time.

At lunchtime, he bid farewell to the island nation, which has been in the global spotlight during the pontiff's four-day visit.

Earlier on Saturday, he celebrated Mass with tens of thousands of worshippers at the Bahrain National Stadium, south of Manama. This is only the second time that a pope has visited the Arabian Gulf, following Pope Francis's visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019.

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Updated: November 07, 2022, 5:24 AM
Pope FrancisBahrain