HUNDREDS of excited students welcomed Pope Francis during a special visit by the pontiff to Sacred Heart School in Isa Town.
The meeting, which is part of the Pope’s historic four-day journey to Bahrain, took place yesterday afternoon.
Pope Francis was accompanied by Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Nawaf Al Maawda. The school’s principal Sister Roselyn Thomas welcomed him as students of various nationalities greeted him in their native languages.
“Holy Father, my heart is filled with gratitude for this privilege of seeing you face-to-face during your Apostolic Journey to Bahrain and, in particular, to Sacred Heart School,” Sister Roselyn said in her opening address.
“We express our admiration and appreciation for your humble service, loving guidance, vision of peace and harmony, and the courageous steps taken in this direction.
“Sacred Heart School is a miniature symbol of peaceful coexistence and culture of care. We have students and staff hailing from 29 different nationalities, cultures, languages and religious backgrounds. All live and grow here under the benign mantle of the Sacred Heart.
“This is the 74th year of the foundation of Sacred Heart School. In all these years, you have been its most treasured and most revered guest.”
During his visit, Pope Francis also signed the Book of Honour at the school, writing: “To devote time, passion and energy to educating young people is to build peace. May this school be an open and fraternal building site of hope, where we work to realise the biggest dreams of the little ones.”
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