Written by Maryam Al-Dosari
Manama. November 2 (BNA): Her eyes are full of joy and anticipation, Najla Uchi openly shows her jubilant enthusiasm for the historic visit of Pope Francis to Bahrain.
The prominent Christian said that the visit of His Holiness the Pope to Bahrain at the kind invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is an opportunity for His Holiness to learn about the unique Bahraini model in promoting coexistence and supporting religious freedoms. says the woman.
And the woman whose father was honored by the Pope can’t wait to see Pope Francis again, having seen him in Abu Dhabi in February 2019.
“I am pleased to meet His Holiness the Pope in Bahrain. I went to meet him when he visited the United Arab Emirates, and today I look forward to meeting him in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” she told the Bahrain News Agency. ) in her soft voice as we sit on the sofa at the family home.
“Yes, I am excited for the Pope to witness the integrated society in which we live, how we live in harmony with each other in a country where there is no place for discrimination of race, religion or ethnicity,” she adds with an emotional tone.
“This peaceful environment is attributed to our wise leadership, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the people of Bahrain who believe that Bahrain is a country of destiny. To welcome everyone.”
Sitting with Najla Uchi, a woman who has a great historical knowledge of Christianity in Bahrain and who sets a fine example of humility and hospitality, is an enchanting experience.
She is the daughter of Salman Uchi, a Christian building contractor.
Aside from the buildings, Salman also built strong bonds and lasting friendships with Bahrainis. He worked in the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) before moving to work in the Court of the Ruler of Bahrain at that time.
Contributed to the formation of a basic building block for the Christian religion in Bahrain by supervising the construction of the Sacred Heart Church.
The Sacred Heart Church is the first Catholic church in Bahrain, the land of coexistence and peace. The goodwill and intentions of the rulers of the country generously gave the people a space in their hearts and they donated the land to mosques and churches.
The church, which was built on a plot of land donated by the late Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is a wonderful addition to Bahrain’s remarkable record of peaceful coexistence and true peace.
“My father worked at that time as a contractor, and obtained a license from the then ruler of Bahrain, His Highness Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who welcomed the construction of the church out of the rich religious pluralism in Bahraini society,” Najla Uchi says.
“With the establishment of the church, Christian families began flocking to perform mass and prayers in the Sacred Heart Church, which is the first Catholic church in the Arabian Gulf.”
Uchi was honored in Italy by Pope Pius XII and awarded with a medal for his honorable efforts in building the first Catholic church in the Persian Gulf.
Najla Uchi proudly displays the medal, which is a treasure of the highest value.
While Najla Uchi shares her memories with the Bahrain News Agency, she browses some brochures and photos that take her back to a long time ago. A time when she happily realized that she belonged to a nation of peace and security that embraced her life and the lives of many, a nation that has always been known as a global model of coexistence, tolerance and the promotion of religious freedoms.
“Life in Bahrain was simple, and we grew up among neighbors from different families of diverse backgrounds in Manama, but religious, ethnic and linguistic differences were not a barrier between us, we lived in harmony and love with everyone, and nothing separated us. We united our deep love for Bahrain,” she recalls. With a deep sense of gratitude overwhelmed her.
“When I was growing up in Bahrain, the number of Christian families was limited. Today, when we attend Sunday mass, we are among hundreds of Christians.”
While she recalls the past with great fondness, she is satisfied with the satisfactory present and optimistic about the promising future – a role model for many.