In pictures: Bahrain King Hamad receives Pope Francis at Sakhir Palace - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More

Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, along with Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister received Pope Francis on Thursday.

On welcoming Pope Francis, King Hamad also exchanged commemorative gifts with the sovereign of the Vatican City State.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, an official welcome ceremony afterwards, was held at which the band of the royal guards played the Papal Anthem, Inno e Marcia Pontificale and the Bahraini national anthem, and a 21-gun salute greeting the arrival of Bahrain’s distinguished guest.

En route to Sakhir Air Base in Awali, F-16s accompanied the papal plane during its voyage toward #Bahrain.

The Pope is due to arrive at 5:45 pm local time.

(Image credit: @MaxMenichetti)#PopeFrancis #PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/SXCYOwZGeZ
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

Video highlights from #PopeFrancis’ first day in #Bahrain, including the welcome ceremony and the meeting with civil authorities and diplomatic corps.#PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/JdMBoVauVB
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

People gather on the streets of Awali to welcome Pope Francis before his arrival at the Sakhir Royal Palace.#PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/1EFDC604WV
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

Pope Francis gave King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa a commemorative medal of the visit, showing an image of Our Lady of Arabia flanked by the Cathedral of the same name on the right and the Sacred Heart Church, the first Catholic Church in the Persian Gulf area, on the left. pic.twitter.com/fnpNuUzgSm
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

Due to knee pain, #PopeFrancis asked journalists to join him one-by-one for a greeting and thanked them for their work: “It is an interesting journey, it will make us reflect and it will bring good news.”#PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/2XNgKUdXJu
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

Ahead of #PopeFrancis' take off for #Bahrain, journalists gather in Rome's Fiumicino airport to board the papal flight, prior to the Pope's arrival.#PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/0cQiqHRQrC
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

With Pope Francis on his way to #Bahrain for his 39th Apostolic Journey abroad, the Vatican News team gives us a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the papal visit.#PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/el8S5thFqt
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

Pope Francis boards the papal plane ahead of his departure from Rome's Fiumicino Airport, as he begins his Apostolic Journey to #Bahrain.

(Photo by Vatican News’ Andrea @Tornielli)#PopeInBahrain pic.twitter.com/PFiVY1Qqzg
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 3, 2022

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