The Vatican officially announces the promotion of the first church in the history of the Arabian Peninsula.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

Arabian Gulf - Follow-ups: The Vatican has officially announced the elevation of Our Lady of Arabia Church in the Ahmadi area, south of Kuwait, to the status of a minor basilica - a designation given to certain churches that are granted a special rank in the Catholic Church - thus becoming the first of its kind in the Gulf to receive this designation. Thus, the church carries a deep spiritual and symbolic meaning, as the minor basilica is a title or status granted by the Vatican to some churches distinguished historically, architecturally, or spiritually, by a papal decree, in recognition of their role and importance and the surrounding community. The church becomes directly linked to the Holy See (the Vatican) and carries the symbolism of spiritual "motherhood" for the local community. With this promotion, the church is entitled to bear the Vatican's symbols (the crossed keys and the papal tiara) on its emblems. In addition, it becomes a destination for Catholic pilgrims, as it is granted spiritual privileges such as special indulgences. Besides that, the church enters the register of churches of Catholic importance worldwide. The church's work began in 1948, when it was transformed from a small hut that was a power station into a temporary chapel, after which, a year later, statues and amulets such as "Our Lady of Arabia" became available. The Vatican had previously officially announced that, under Decree No. (18/25) issued on June 28, 2025, Our Lady of Arabia Church - Ahmadi in Kuwait was elevated to the status of a minor basilica, with all the prescribed ritual rights and privileges, in response to a request from Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia. For his part, Bishop Aldo Berardi expressed his gratitude, saying: "This papal honor is a source of pride for all Christians, citizens and residents of Kuwait, and reflects the deep appreciation for religious freedom and interfaith dialogue in the country." On the occasion of the remarkable ecclesiastical recognition, Father Suleiman Haifaoui, representative of the Catholic Church in Kuwait, said that this papal decision "constitutes a bright sign in its journey in Kuwait, and a message of global appreciation for what the country represents as a unique model of tolerance and coexistence between religions." He stressed that this papal honor is a historic event that places Kuwait on the map of global churches and reflects the Catholic Church's appreciation for the Kuwaiti role in establishing freedom of worship and promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence.