Guardian of Sacred Faith
by: BTM - Thu, 13 Nov 2025
On Sacred Heart Church’s 85th anniversary, His Excellency, Bishop Aldo Berardi, exclusively tells Kristian Harrison about Bahrain’s tradition of tolerance, the parish’s diverse faithful and his regional mission.
What does Sacred Heart Church mean to Bahrain after 85 years?
Sacred Heart is our foundation here. The first bells rang at Christmas 1939 and the church opened in 1940 with the blessing of the Emir. Priests first served from Iraq then from Yemen and it was also the foundation of the Sacred Heart school. People once said the church was too big, now it is too small after the growth of the region. It was the first in the Gulf, followed by Kuwait then the Emirates. Historically it is very important for us.
Sacred Heart now welcomes a large and very diverse congregation of migrant and expatriate Catholics who worship in multiple languages and traditions. In your view, what makes this parish community pastorally unique compared with Catholic parishes elsewhere in the world?
Diversity. More than 50 nationalities pray together here, one church and one Catholic faith from many origins. We serve different nationalities, traditions and rites. All gather in one church in different ways but united around the bishop as a centre of unity.
You will declare Sacred Heart Church a Vicarial Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during this 85th Jubilee year. Why was it important to formalise that new status now and what will it mean in practical terms for the faithful who come here?
In the Catholic tradition we have shrines and basilicas. The Holy See proclaims basilicas while locally we can recognise shrines. Our Mother Church inside the parish compound will be proclaimed a shrine, a place of spirituality, worship and counselling where all are welcome. As Sacred Heart, it expresses the love of God in Jesus.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has publicly supported the Catholic community, including granting land for and inaugurating the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali on land donated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; how would you describe the culture of tolerance in the Kingdom today?
Bahrain has a long tradition of acceptance and coexistence. The Hindu temple is over 200 years old and the history of Bahrain shows everyone is welcome. We are now maybe more than 150,000 Catholics here. We have diplomatic relations with the Holy See and the visit of Pope Francis in 2022 was historic. We are in good relation with the country. We feel freedom and we feel blessed to live in these conditions.
As Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia you are responsible for the Catholic Church across the wider region. How do you serve that wider mission beyond Bahrain’s borders?
The vicariate covers Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Many come from Saudi Arabia, where there is no church, yet there are about one million Catholics. Thanks be to God, there is a bridge so they can come. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali is a place of prayer, devotion and meeting. It is also known as a historical and tourist site. Our parish in Bahrain is a federation and a place of unity.
What are the most urgent needs and challenges for Catholics in the region in 2025?
Places of worship is of primary importance because we are many. Organising schedules on feasts like Easter and Christmas is difficult since everyone comes according to rite and language. Another challenge is keeping unity across Indian, Middle Eastern, Eastern and Western traditions. We try to answer with priests from different countries who understand people’s histories and sensibilities. People also carry the worries of their homelands, such as earthquakes, typhoons and political problems, whilst we support one another.
When you stand in the church today, what do you most want to protect for the next generation?
85 years may seem little compared to 1000-year churches, but for this region it is important. We see a link with the first Christian communities before the establishment of Islam. We want to show loyalty and thanksgiving to the country and keep the patrimony of our churches for transmission to the new generation. We have programmes in catechism, Christian formation and history. We want them to love this country and to love our faith and God.
What will the 85th anniversary celebrations involve?
On November 8 we officially proclaimed the Mother Church a Vicarial or Diocesan Shrine. The first part is religious for prayer and communion with the Catholic Church. The second part is cultural and historical, inviting others from outside the church, other churches and the authorities to appreciate how this church has been kept for 85 years.
What is your message to Catholics arriving in Bahrain who have not yet discovered the church?
Many are surprised to find a fully organised parish here, plus the cathedral which is not a parish but a place of unity and the Mother Church of the vicariate. For Catholics we provide all spiritual services. For non-Catholics we present the cultural beauty of our churches. Architecture matters because we worship in a beautiful place. For Catholics this is your home. Bahrain may be your place of work for some years but your family is here and the same church and tradition are here. Bahrain is a good place to meet other religions and churches. We share on ethical, social and educational topics for respect of human rights and justice.
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