Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See’s highest-ranking diplomatic representative, will undertake an official visit to Kuwait from January 14 to 16, 2026, as announced by the Vatican’s embassy. The visit forms part of the celebrations marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church in the Gulf—the proclamation of the Parish Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi as a Minor Basilica.
Cardinal Parolin will preside over the proclamation ceremony on Friday, January 16, 2026. The title of Minor Basilica is conferred by the Pope in recognition of a church’s historical, spiritual, and pastoral significance, and the elevation of Our Lady of Arabia holds exceptional importance as it becomes the first Minor Basilica in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Church of Our Lady of Arabia is widely regarded as the mother church of Kuwait. Its roots date back to 1948, when the first chapel was established to serve the growing Catholic community. The present church was constructed in 1957 as a gift from the Kuwait Oil Company and has since stood as a spiritual home for Catholics of diverse nationalities living and working in the region.
Over the decades, the church has played a central role in nurturing faith, fostering unity, and providing pastoral care in the Gulf. Its proclamation as a Minor Basilica marks not only a recognition of its legacy but also a powerful symbol of continuity, coexistence, and religious heritage in the Arabian Peninsula.
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