The State of Kuwait and the Holy See welcome the official visit of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, which is taking place on January 15-16, 2026.

During the visit, an official round of talks was held with His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait.

Cardinal Parolin also presides at the solemn celebration of the Minor Basilica's proclamation, which will take place in Ahmadi on Friday, January 16.

The Secretary of State’s visit aims to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation that the Holy See and the State of Kuwait have maintained since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1968.

That year, Kuwait became the first country of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to establish such relations with the Holy See.

The visit also intends to attest to the longstanding tradition of religious coexistence that has consistently characterized the State of Kuwait within the Arabian Gulf.

First Catholic church in the country

The visit comes as part of the celebrations marking the proclamation of the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi, Kuwait, as a Minor Basilica.

As the oldest Catholic church in the State of Kuwait and the Gulf region, this title was conferred by Pope Leo XIV on June 28, 2025, in recognition of its historical and spiritual significance in the Gulf region.

This historic designation—the first of its kind in the Arabian Peninsula—highlights the unique role of the Church of Our Lady of Arabia as the mother church of Kuwait, being the first Catholic church ever built in the country.

The original chapel was constructed in 1948, and the present church was completed in 1957 as a generous gift from local donors, whose care and support for the church complex continue to this day.

A peaceful coexistence among religions

In the press release, the State of Kuwait reaffirms its firm principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among religions, values enshrined in its ideals from its inception and later codified in its Constitution.

This visit is also an opportunity to recall the historic visit by the late Amir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to the Successor of Peter on 6 May 2010, which was an important milestone in relations between the State of Kuwait and the Holy See.

That visit took place as part of a series of high-ranking official exchanges, stressing the Kuwaiti leadership’s commitment to strengthening communication and dialogue with the Holy See.

It was preceded in 2009 by the visit of the former Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and followed in 2015 by the visit of the then-Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.