(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 28.10.2022).- Pope Francis will visit the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the Arabic Peninsula, from November 3-6. The Pontiff is undertaking this visit on the occasion of the “Bahrain Forum for Dialoguer: East and West for Human Coexistence.” In addition to a meeting with the King (who helped with the building of the church dedicated to Our Lady of Arabia by donating the terrain), with the Authorities and with Muslim Representatives, the Holy Father will meet with the country’s Catholic community. The following reflects the Church’s presence in Bahrain:
The population of the Arabic monarchy numbers 1.5 million. Islam is the official religion, professed by 80% of the population. 10% of the remaining 20% is Christian. Catholics number some 161,000 in the whole country;.
There is only on ecclesiastical circumscription in Bahrain and two parishes. The percentage of Catholics in each parish is 80,450. Bahrain has one Bishop, 13 diocesan priests, seven priests religious, one religious not a priest, seven professed women religious and 89 catechists.
The average number of Catholics per priest is 8,045. The vocational situation reflects one major seminarian.
The Catholic Church in Bahrain runs two nursery and primary education schools and one secondary school. 987 students attend the former and 328 the latter. It does not have Universities.
