Saudi Govt Hails Arab Coalition for Thwarting Houthi Attacks against Civilians

King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Hails Arab Coalition for Thwarting Houthi Attacks against Civilians

King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting. (SPA)
King Salman chairs a cabinet meeting. (SPA)

The Saudi cabinet hailed on Tuesday the efforts of the Saudi-led Arab coalition in confronting attempts by the terrorist Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen to attack civilians and civilian locations.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held virtually amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The cabinet also hailed the coalition for neutralizing the Houthis' hostile capabilities while respecting international humanitarian law.

The cabinet thanked God for the bestowed blessings of security and stability on Saudi Arabia and the programs and projects included in the State General Budget for the 2022 fiscal year. The programs and projects aim to increase human development and continue economic growth and diversification. They seek to achieve financial sustainability and place further attention to the security and health of citizens and residents. They also demonstrate the determination to continue implementing economic initiatives and reforms to realize the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.

The ministers stressed the keenness on preserving and boosting the Kingdom’s gains, as well as continuing working with all resources and capabilities to achieve the goals and aspirations of citizens regarding continuous improvement in the quality of life, development of facilities and services, the educational environment, support for housing plans, increased investment and employment opportunities, and optimal utilization of available resources, in addition to raising the level of transparency and efficiency of government expenditure in order to promote growth and development rates.

The cabinet addressed the outcomes of the official visits of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the talks with the leaders of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. It praised the outcomes of the visits and the concluded agreements and initiatives.

The cabinet also commended the outcomes of 42nd Session of GCC Supreme Council, which was held in Riyadh, to boost Gulf action and push it towards wider horizons, in addition to support cooperation, interdependence, integration and coordination in all fields, in a manner that achieves the aspirations of the citizens of the GCC as well as the unity of ranks among its members, and consolidates security, stability and prosperity for the region and its peoples.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid al-Qasabi said the cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the meetings of the Follow-up and Political Consultation Committee between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Both sides were in agreement over a number of issues and crises facing the region and the world. The two countries agreed to continue their efforts to support the security and stability of the peoples of the region, stressing the importance of joint Arab action and rejecting any attempts by regional parties to interfere in the affairs of Arab countries.

The cabinet reviewed the latest regional and international developments, reiterating the Kingdom's permanent position on supporting the Yemeni government, Saudi Arabia's keenness to realize security, stability and development for the Yemeni people, and pushing all efforts to reach a political solution based on the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism, outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216.

The cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian work across the globe, in light of its operation of an airlift and land bridge to Afghanistan. The cabinet underlined the Kingdom's speech at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as it called on the countries of the world and international organizations to meet the humanitarian needs and sustainable aid for Afghanistan and its people.



Gulf Remembers Pope as a Symbol of Tolerance, Dialogue

The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)
The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)
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Gulf Remembers Pope as a Symbol of Tolerance, Dialogue

The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)
The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)

Gulf nations remember Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, who passed away at the age of 88, as a global symbol of tolerance and dialogue between civilizations.

Due to his spiritual stature and worldwide influence, Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, met with Pope Francis twice.

Their first meeting took place on May 28, 2023, at the pope's residence in Santa Marta, in a landmark encounter reflecting the Muslim World League's role in promoting effective dialogue, transparent understanding, and positive cooperation among followers of different religions and cultures.

The meeting included discussions on shared values and building bridges between civilizations, as well as addressing the challenges of religious and ideological extremism in all its forms, including hate, racism, marginalization, and exclusion.

The second meeting between Al-Issa and the Pope took place on December 23, 2024, with the same objective in mind.

The most significant event in the Gulf's relationship with the late Pope Francis was his historic visit to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

On February 3, 2019, Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula, following an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to participate in an interfaith dialogue conference.

During his visit to the UAE, the Pope led a mass at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on February 5, attended by approximately 120,000 people.

For the UAE, which is home to more than one million Christians, the majority of whom are Catholics, the visit underscored the nation's commitment to tolerance and cultural diversity. Christians in the UAE make up about one-ninth of the population, and they enjoy a life of dignity, respect, and equality in a country that has become a model of inclusivity.

Abu Dhabi saw the establishment of the first church in the UAE in 1965, a Catholic church named “St. Joseph's.” The first mass in Abu Dhabi was held in 1958 at the Al Hosn Palace. In the neighboring Emirate of Dubai, the first church, “St. Mary’s,” was built in 1967.

Today, the UAE is home to 45 churches.

Pope's Visit to Bahrain

From November 3 to 6, 2022, the late Pope Francis visited Bahrain, where he met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and senior officials.

The Pope’s visit was part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the Islamic world, following his historic trip to the UAE in 2019.

During his time in Bahrain, Pope Francis addressed a dialogue forum on coexistence, organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, based in the UAE.

He also met with Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb of Al-Azhar, with whom he had signed a joint document on interfaith coexistence during his visit to the UAE.

The Pope led a grand mass at the Bahrain National Stadium, attended by Christian church leaders from Bahrain and the region, as well as more than 28,000 people representing 111 nationalities.

In his address, the Pope emphasized the principles of peace and love for all.

Bahrain is home to 18 churches representing various Christian denominations.

The country witnessed the construction of its first Christian church in 1906, the National Evangelical Church, which is the oldest church in Bahrain and the Gulf. In 1939, the first Catholic church in Bahrain and the Gulf was built, the Sacred Heart Church.

In 2021, the largest Catholic church in the region, Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral, was inaugurated. Located in Al A'ali, the cathedral covers 9,000 square meters and can accommodate more than 2,300 people, with its outdoor plaza holding over 6,000 visitors and worshippers.

The final stop of the Pope’s four-day visit to Bahrain was at the Sacred Heart Church, built in 1939 on land donated by the ruler at the time.

Christians in Kuwait

Kuwait is the second Gulf state, after Bahrain, with a Christian community comprising 262 individuals. The majority of Christians in both Kuwait and Bahrain trace their origins to southeastern Türkiye, Iraq, and Palestine.

On January 8, 1999, Emmanuel Gharib was ordained as a priest and pastor of the National Evangelical Church, making him the first Gulf national to attain this position.

Pastor Emmanuel founded the “National Evangelical Church” diwaniya in Kuwait, a space for discussions on the latest social, political, and economic developments. The church was built on land purchased by the US mission in 1914 to construct a men’s hospital.

According to a 2014 US State Department report on religious freedoms, there are over 200 Kuwaiti Christians spread across eight families, in addition to around 450,000 expatriate Christians residing in the country.