Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, is in Kuwait for a pastoral and diplomatic visit taking place on January 15-16, during which he will elevate the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi to the rank of a Minor Basilica.

On Thursday, December 15, the first day of his visit, the Cardinal Secretary of State addressed the clergy, men and women religious, and the faithful of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, and celebrated Mass.

Meeting priests and religious

Cardinal Parolin met with priests and religious at the Holy Family Co-Cathedral. In his address, the Cardinal conveyed the greeting and encouragement of Pope Leo XIV and thanked them for their service, often carried out far from their homelands and in challenging contexts.

He reminded those present that priestly and consecrated life is rooted above all in their relationship with Christ.

Speaking to priests, the Cardinal said, “The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts,” encouraging them to be “priests of love, not of perfection; priests who are joyful because we know we are chosen and loved by the Lord.”

Addressing religious men and women, the Secretary of State recalled the Pope’s invitation to live consecrated life through the Gospel attitudes of “Ask, Seek, and Knock."

He noted that these verbs express a vocation that recognizes its dependence on God, seeks His will, and embraces Him as its ultimate fulfillment.

In a region marked by cultural and religious plurality, he urged all those present to be “prophets of peace and unity,” adding, “You have the mission of making visible true fraternity and unity in Christ.”

Holy Mass

Later on Thursday, Cardinal Parolin presided over Mass in the Holy Family Co-Cathedral to mark the 65th anniversary of its consecration.

In his homily, he conveyed the Pope’s spiritual closeness to the Catholic community in Kuwait and to all Christians of the region, noting that the elevation of the Church of Our Lady of Arabia to a Minor Basilica, granted on 28 June 2025, recognizes “the deep devotion that Christians living in these lands profess for the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Lord.”

Reflecting on the setting of Kuwait, between desert and sea, the Cardinal recalled these elements as part of the biblical history of salvation and as symbols still meaningful today.

He described the Co-Cathedral as “an authentic meeting place of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, a safe harbor, and a place of peace and harmony.”

He reminded the faithful that the true temple of God is found above all in the lives of believers themselves. “The true meaning of this temple is not found in its stone walls, but in its living stones—the faithful who gather here,” he said.

At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Parolin greeted representatives of the various Christian Churches and ecclesial communities present in the Gulf, in view of an upcoming ecumenical meeting linked to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

He expressed the hope that the way Christians live together “in mutual welcome and respect” might continue to serve as an example for wider society.