Pope Francis arrived on the popemobile to greet the 30,000 gathered in Bahrain's national stadium for Mass.
In his homily, he told the region's minority Christian population, most of them migrant workers from nearby countries, to always be messengers of love and peace, even when feeling attacked or marginalized.
POPE FRANCIS
There will be friction, moments of tension, conflicts, and opposing viewpoints, but who follows the Prince of Peace must always strive for peace.
The Pope then referenced Bahrain as a model of coexistence. It's population of nearly 1.8 million is largely split between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, yet ruling Sunni leadership has been accused of discriminating against other types of Muslims.
Pope Francis said that people from different backgrounds must love one another as neighbors, rather than view others as distant foreigners.
POPE FRANCIS
This very land is a living image of coexistence in diversity, of our world increasingly marked by constant migration of peoples and a pluralism of ideas, customs, and traditions.
The true challenge to be children of the Father and to build a world of siblings is to learn to love all, including enemies.
Bishop Paul Hinder, the Vatican's representative to Northern Arabia, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, thanked Pope Francis for his visit to Bahrain.
The Pope then gifted him a chalice, as is customary when he visits Church leaders and stopped to pray before a statue of Our Lady and child ahead of the final procession.
JM
