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First Catholic church for Saudi Arabia

Published: March 18, 2008

Negotiations are underway to build the first Catholic church in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah lending his support for its construction.

Vatican Radio reports the Vatican and the Saudi government are currently in talks to allow the church despite the kingdoms ban on allowing the construction of any non-Muslim place of worship.

No religion other than Islam is allowed to schedule public services, and even the possession of bibles, rosaries, and crucifixes is forbidden.

Saudi Arabia is the only country on the Arabian Peninsula without a Catholic church despite the 800,000 Catholics - virtually all of who are foreign workers.

While Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See, King Abdullah became the first reigning Saudi monarch ever to visit the Vatican last November.

Commenting after his meeting with the Pope Vatican officials confirmed the Pontiff pressed for permission to open a Catholic church in the kingdom.

Holy See spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said that opening a Catholic parish in the Islamic land would be "a historic achievement" for religious freedom and a major step forward for inter-religious dialogue.

The apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, Archbishop Paul-Mounged El-Hachem, is reportedly the lead Vatican negotiator in talks with Saudi officials.

SOURCE

Saudis to allow construction of a Catholic church? (CWN 17/03/08)

Vatican Plans to Open Church in Saudi Arabia (Defending the Faith 17/03/08)

Vatican plans to open church in Saudi Arabia (Telegraph UK 17/03/08)

 

 

 

 

 

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Recent Comments

  1. This is the best news I have read today. I lived in Kuwait for many years and was able to practise my Catholic Faith. My friends who lived in Saudi Arabia could not do the same. Hope the Church could be built soon.



    Posted By: Pamela

  2. Yes, approx. 1 million Christians pray every day in this land to build a church for their worship. God is Merciful and he will surely bless us! We wish the Holy Father would also visit us. I have been living in the Kingdom for 14 years and this is the first good news of this kind we have received.

    Posted By: sagy

  3. it is essential to open Catholic churches in Saudi Arabia. Muslims are allowed to worship their god all over the world so it is only fair that christians be allowed to have churches in the kingdom.

    Posted By: k.starwin

  4. Thank God, I hope this negotiation will materialize soon. And I hope & pray that King Abdullah and the Saudi religious authorities will be enlightened and grant the Vatican's request thru Pope Benedict to allow the immediate constructions of Christian Churches kingdomwide.

    This magnanimous gesture will be an historic one and will surely make all Catholics like me and other Christians in KSA very happy in practising our faith openly without apprehensions.

    God really works in mysterious ways.

    Praise the Lord.

    Amen.

    Posted By: Rick Medilo Casas

  5. That's great news but the real Church is that of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople. Athens is the only European Capital where a mosque is NOT allowed -

    Posted By: Ibin Ghassan

  6. -Do you allow a mosque in the Vatican?
    - How many European countries are not allowing the building of mosques?
    - What is the source of this statistic of 1 Million Christians?
    - Do Christians really care about worshipping God or are they really concerned about their egos and controlling the desires of others?
    - On the whole churches are businesses. They are just looking after fattening the pockets of the Christian figures.
    - Why do you interfere in other countries' business?
    - Those who do not like Saudi policies or don’t want to respect their nations choice , let them please leave the country.
    ( I hope this message won't get suppressed and silenced , wonderful how you people are selective on your double standards , freedom of speech and freedom of choice But not for every religion or every race )

    Posted By: MXAM

  7. Thanks GOD, As we read the news we are very happy becuse since a very long time we are serving this country, but we don't have a worship facility inorder to worship our God. we are very thankfull to King Abdullah regarding this matter. May the omnipotent God bless the King and the Kingdom more and more.

    Posted By: C.A.Joseph.puthenpally. Varapuzha,EKM.Kerala.India

  8. Praise God!

    I am excited and happy about the news.We can worship without hiding and fear.Thanks to those who understand our spiritual needs.

    Posted By: benjie

  9. If Muslim faith is practised and allowed in Italy, why not in Saudi Arabia? If other Muslim dominated countries allowed Catholics to built churches, why not in Saudi Arabia? Why not allow non-muslim to practice their faith FREELY?

    It would be a great opportunity to thousands of Catholics here in KSA to finally be "allowed" to build a Church. I myself am a Catholic and I certainly welcome the proposal! I've been here for almost 10 years and practising my Roman Catholic faith is always at risk.

    Praise God and I pray that the King will allow the proposal.

    Posted By: Enigma

  10. Church is essential for the people to come & worship. Praise God! The King Abdullah gave permission to build a church. May Our Lord enable all His people to gather in the church which is going to be built. As Our Lord has given commission to us go to the world & spread His good news, there should not be a place where the good news is not preached. Our Lord's work is going on Amen.
    At the same time we must know that there is only one Lord who is our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. So worship him with Spirit & truth. Let all of us prepare ourselves for His second coming.

    Posted By: Shalini Jones

  11. to MXAM. there are no moslems in the Vatican, which geographically is a church, but Italy a christian country,in accord with the vatican allowed the building of a big mosque in Rome. Most christian countries, whether secular or not, allow the building of mosquues Further they even allow conversions fron Christianity to Islam, although most Islamic countries refuse to recognize the conversion of moslems to Christianity (famous case of Mohammed Hegazy in Egypt). Therefore who are those who practise double standards? By the way moslems who emigrate to Christian countries are by far more numerous than Christians who establish themselves in islamic countries, whish means that they feel christian countries are better, and not only for money. For statistics refer to KSA immigration & CIA. People who are unhappy in Christian countries, please leave them too. Shalom

    Posted By: PATRICK REMY

  12. This is the best news I have read today. I lived in Saudi Arabia for many years and was unable to practise my Catholic Faith. My friends who lived in other GCC could do Catholic Faith. Hope the Church could be built soon. and bless us

    Posted By: shaji andrady

  13. Thank God, I hope this negotiation will materialize soon. And I hope & pray that King Abdullah and the Saudi religious authorities will be enlightened and grant the Vatican's request thru Pope Benedict to allow the immediate constructions of Christian Churches kingdomwide.

    TRESA SHAJI
    NEENDAKARA
    JOSEPH DALE 691582
    KERAL INDIA

    Posted By: tresashaji

  14. I PRAISE & THANK THE LORD FOR THIS WONDERFUL NEWS.

    Posted By: Y. Mathew

  15. Praise the Lord; the word of our Lord and his Gospel will be preached all over the world. Once the Saudi govt. has approved the word will be fulfilled. This is our thirst, we who live in this country Saudi Arabia

    Posted By: Santhamani Nathan

  16. Praise to God, it will be a miracle, to allow practice in Saudi and open a church for Christian, thanks to God. Rocky, KSA

    Posted By: Rocky

  17. Reciprocity is a good omen. Will the Vatican allow the Muslims to build a mosque in their territory?

    Posted By: syed hyderi

  18. It's a great news and hope it materializes soon. May God bless King Abdullah for his effort in this regard. I have been working in Saudi Arabia for the last 15 years and longing to practise my Catholic faith without fear in a church. How wonderful this country will be for us if we are allowed to practise our religion freely.

    Posted By: Baby Paul

  19. I am very happy to hear that a Church could be built in Saudi Arabia; what great news! what a wonderful Blessing for all those workers who yearn to pray and practise their faith in freedom and adore the most Blessed Sacrament and be able to go to Mass. May the Lord guide us in the path of peace and reconciliation,

    Posted By: Jaydan Freyone

  20. Great news! For it is written "go ye into the world and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT".(Mathew 28:19) Praise GOD!!!

    Posted By: Thony

  21. or thanx god

    I am living in Saudi
    Arabia. When I was in my mother country, I never missed Sunday Mass but in ksa I don't have the posibility of going to Mass, but still I have my faith in God and in the Son of God. This is good news for all Catholics living in Saudi Arabia.

    Please build this church soon and thanx for holy father

    Posted By: NOEL FERNANDO

  22. "Will the Vatican allow the Muslims to build a mosque in their territory?"

    Did "the Vatican" request to build a Church in the center of a Muslim holy place such as the Kaaba at Mecca? Of course not: the comparison is stupid. The KSA should allow Catholics to worship in churches built on their private property.

    Posted By: sanity

  23. As a Catholic octogenarian who has worked in the Kingdom,I find this to be great news.
    Maybe this is the first step for all of us to accept the fact that we all worship the same God. This will be a very difficult journey for all Faiths.

    Posted By: Louis M Zembruski Sr.

  24. Hi the poeple of God,greetings to all memembers of the church..I'm from Ghana and the head of Christ the King Catholic church..we want to have a talk with you and I hope permission will be well granted and please, as much as possible, send me an email so that we could communicate about some church talks ...it's very urgent ..hope to hear from you as soon as possible

    Posted By: Mr.macc

  25. Peace be with You!!! I am a filipino 2nd year theologian studying in Davao City, Philippines. I am very happy about the news. Don't worry my dear beloved brothers and sisters, God is love and powerful. He can change the hearts of all our muslim brothers. Just like the powerful pagan Italy before, was converted to christianity even persecutions were very rampant. Human will could not resist the WILL of God. Now, see, Italy became the centre of Christianity. Just like Saudi Arabia, I do believe this country would soon be the next centre of Christianity. As Tertullian said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity". God bless us all!

    Posted By: peter

  26. MXAM's view is one of the most ridiculously ignorant comments that plague today's society. First off, the spread of Islam, check your history before talking again, was by force and was a geographical phenomenon that imposed itself and did not leave the option of not converting as a truly considerable one. Secondly, if we were to apply his MXAM'x same reasoning, since Islam is a way of life and not a "religion", why doesn't every single muslim stay where Islam originated and let's just close the western ideologies and lifestyle to the muslim world? Obviously I don't advocate this, however I simply would like to say that this type of reasoning plagues today's societies.
    Lastly, when you speak of "you people" and point out the hypocrisy of the western world, I'd like you to ponder over the most hypocritical way of life: your own. As for the Vatican not having a mosque; the Vatican is the only State that exists as a religious state. If and when Islam will ever have a head, then I am sure that no Christian or westerner will ever want to build a church in the simply Muslim state. I wouldn't have a problem with that and any other person with common sense wouldn't either.
    Enjoy your rhetoric lesson. Peace

    Posted By: Pietro Meli

  27. The possession of bibles, rosaries, and crucifixes is not forbidden in Saudi Arabia as long as it's for personal use not preaching.

    Just a simple correction!

    Posted By: Tom

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