The Dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral, Bahrain, the Very Reverend Dr Richard Fermer, addressed a meeting to celebrate UN World Peace Day, held at the Cultural Hall in Manama last night (21 September).

Welcoming an audience representing the many communities that call Bahrain home, Dean Richard heralded a kingdom that was itself “celebrated for its ‘culture of peace’”—the theme of this year’s UN event.

“Cultivating a culture of peace is not only a vision dear to the heart of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,” said Dean Richard, “it is something that he has put into action, and our coming together is a testimony of that.”

Speaking on the theme of faith as a path to peace, Dean Richard’s address drew on the poem by Robert Devreaux, “Recipe for Peace”.

Bahrain’s Declaration of Peaceful Coexistence in 2017 reflected His Majesty King Hamad’s commitment to work for peace in the region and the wider world, supported by the establishment of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and the King Hamad Chair in Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at La Sapienza University in Rome.

Indeed, the Consecration and Installation of Bishop Sean at St Christopher’s Cathedral in May was an illustration of that vision of peaceful coexistence, and the gracious welcome offered by the Kingdom of Bahrain to people of all faiths.