The largest Catholic church in the Arabian Peninsula opens in Bahrain (photos)

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia can accommodate 2,300 worshipers and will serve the small Christian community of the Persian Gulf country.

“We are very happy for the church. “It will serve our needs and our spiritual health,” Bahrain Priest Charbel Faiad told AFP.

The Church of Modern Architecture, with two floors, is located just 1.5 km from a larger mosque in the south of the state.

The Vatican estimates that Bahrain has about 80,000 Catholics, most of them workers from Asian countries, mainly India and the Philippines.

“Christians and non-Christians, we are all children of God, and they are welcome in this wonderful church,” said Father Charbel sid.

Last week King Hamad invited Pope Francis to visit Bahrain.

Against the backdrop of mosque minarets and empty oil fields, the largest Catholic church in the Arabian Peninsula opened its doors today in Bahrain