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Awali – Music as a language of faith, the memory of St Francis as an opportunity for encounter, and dialogue as a path towards building peace. These were the themes at the heart of “San Francesco 800 – A Musical Journey of Faith,” an event held in recent days at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Kingdom of Bahrain, to mark the eighth centenary of the death of the Poverello of Assisi.
“It was a beautiful event, a moment to remember in the history of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia,” Father Marcus Fernandes, OFM Cap., who conceived and developed the musical program, told Fides. During the evening, music, storytelling and community participation retraced the life and spiritual journey of Saint Francis. The musical presentation brought together 21 musicians, more than 42 adult singers and 17 children, who performed together.
The guests were welcomed by the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., who spoke of Saint Francis’ deep love for God and his desire to offer everything in praise and service of the Lord. The Bishop also highlighted the significance of the Transitus of Saint Francis, the moment in which the saint entrusted his life to the Lord.
The celebration was honoured by the presence of distinguished guests from Bahrain’s cultural and diplomatic community, including a representative of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, as well as the Ambassadors of the Republic of Korea, Italy and the United States, and the Ambassadors of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Representatives of the Anglican and Indian Orthodox Churches were also present.
In his address, Bishop Berardi expressed his gratitude to His Majesty the King of Bahrain for his gracious hospitality. He also requested H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance, to convey his heartfelt thanks, prayers and best wishes.
“Peace is precious and fragile; it is protected by mercy, peaceful dialogue and care for each other,” the Apostolic Vicar told those present. His words provided a bridge to the subsequent reflection by Dr Shaikh Abdulla, who focused precisely on the value of dialogue through the figure of Saint Francis. At the heart of his address was the historic encounter in Egypt between Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil, in a context marked by war and division. Two men from different faith traditions were able to meet with mutual respect and openness, offering a powerful example of dialogue and peaceful coexistence. “Dialogue requires courage,” Dr Shaikh Abdulla stressed, emphasizing that meaningful dialogue calls for openness, understanding and a willingness to engage despite differences. His remarks were particularly significant in the context of Bahrain, a country whose commitment to coexistence and tolerance was recalled by the President of the King Hamad Global Centre.
Father Michael Fernandes, OFM Cap., Custos of the Capuchin Custody of Arabia, also reflected on the life and personality of Saint Francis. He spoke of Francis’ ability to recognize God’s presence in creation and in every person. Fr. Michael noted that Francis’ life of simplicity together with his concern for creation, continues to inspire people well beyond the Franciscan family.
At the end of the evening, Father Marcus Fernandes expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who worked behind the scenes, as well as the community whose encouragement and support made the evening possible. “We did something beautiful today,” he said. The performance was the fruit of many hours of preparation, rehearsal and collaboration.
San Francesco 800 became more than a commemoration of an anniversary. It offered the community of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia an opportunity to encounter the enduring message of Saint Francis through music, faith and fellowship, while highlighting a legacy that continues to inspire people across cultures and generations: a man who placed his relationship with God, fraternity, care for creation and encounter with others at the centre of his life. In the heart of Bahrain, the memory of Saint Francis thus also became an opportunity to reaffirm the value of dialogue and fraternity as concrete paths for safeguarding peace.
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