Bahrain: Celebrations mark 800 years from death of St Francis

By Roberto Paglialonga 

A series of events marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis will be organized in Bahrain during the “Year of Isa Al Kabir,” declared by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in honour of Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa (known as Isa Al Kabir), regarded as the founder of the modern Bahraini state and a key figure in its institutional renewal. The announcement comes from the Embassy of Italy in Manama, in cooperation with This is Bahrain, in a statement explaining that the commemoration reflects the Gulf kingdom’s “ongoing commitment to dialogue, coexistence, and respect for diversity.”

The legacy of St Francis

Bahrain seeks to honour what it considers a shared heritage. “Though separated by time and culture,” the statement reads, “both figures share a common legacy: their lives remind us that true strength lies in compassion, openness, and the acceptance of diversity.”

St Francis of Assisi (1181–1228) is remembered worldwide as a man of peace and dialogue, who gave witness to respect for differences through his historic encounter with the Sultan of Egypt in 1219. In turn, the statement continues, “centuries later, Isa Al Kabir, Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa (1869–1932), opened the doors to diverse communities and laid the foundations for a welcoming society based on exchange and understanding.”

Events promoting coexistence and dialogue

The commemorative programme aims to highlight the values of coexistence and dialogue. It will include an intercultural and interreligious conference bringing together leaders and scholars to reflect on “the universal message of peace associated with St Francis,” including his friendship with the Sultan of Egypt, the “Economy of St Francis” as a response to present-day scarcity and poverty, and the “Ecology of St Francis” as a call to preserve the earth and renew its resources.

It will also feature a national drawing competition for schoolchildren and young artists in Bahrain, encouraging creative expression around the themes of peace, friendship, and nature, as well as a concert titled Canticle of the Creatures, celebrating the values of St Francis of Assisi and his timeless message of harmony with creation and humanity.

The voice of the saint speaks to today’s world

Speaking at the press conference, Italy’s Ambassador to Manama, Andrea Catalano, noted that “the voice of St Francis still speaks to our world” and that “his call for peace and dialogue resonates with urgency in an age marked by division and conflict.”

In this time of crisis, Catalano added, “his legacy reminds us that the path to harmony is not found in conquest, but in compassion; not in walls, but in bridges; not in silence, but in dialogue.” For this reason, he stressed, it is necessary to “heal divisions and sow seeds of peace where discord prevails.”

Attention to the role of women

For her part, Betsy Mathieson, president of This is Bahrain, also highlighted St Francis’s attention to the role of women. “Through his support for the Poor Clares, founded together with St Clare, he helped trace a path that enabled women to live lives of meaning, devotion, and influence within society,” she said, recalling that at the beginning of the millennium, the Kingdom established the Supreme Council for Women.