Bahrain yesterday vowed to continue promoting inter-faith tolerance and peaceful co-existence."Bahrain is proud of its 1,000 Bahraini Christian citizens, who are well integrated in public life," His Majesty King Hamad said yesterday.
"Many of them are even holding high positions, including in the Shura Council."
He was speaking following his meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, at the Pope's summer residence outside Rome.
"We stressed the importance of promoting bilateral co-operation and building bridges of tolerance, moderation and peace," said His Majesty, who is on an official visit to Rome, Italy.
He also described his visit as a continuation of the dialogue initiated a few years ago with the late John Paul II.
Bahrain's efforts to promote peaceful co-existence through hosting inter-faith conferences and forums and launching peace-driven initiatives, were also highlighted.
"Bahrain hosts the Sacred Heart Church, the oldest Catholic church in the Gulf, as it dates back to 1940," said His Majesty.
There are also more than 30 other Protestant, Orthodox and Coptic churches serving their communities, he said.
His Majesty underlined importance of building bridges of understanding, stressing universal human values, which form the common core of religions and civilisations.
He advocated a peaceful world based on values of tolerance and moderation.
Meanwhile, His Majesty stressed Bahrain's keenness to promote bilateral relations with the Vatican.
He was speaking as he met Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.
His Majesty also highlighted the crucial role of the Vatican in advocating peace, openness between religions and civilisation.
"Such lofty values would only preserve international security and stability and enable all nations to live in a peace-loving world," he said.
The Vatican praised Bahrain's religious tolerance.
The Pope and His Majesty had what the nation described as "cordial" discussions in Castelgandolfo.
"The authorities thanked His Majesty for the welcome given to numerous Christian immigrants" to his country, it said in a statement. The two men "reiterated their common commitment to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue."
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