Rome, September 1–3, 2026
The Latin Episcopal Conference of the Arab Region (CELRA) gathered in Rome from September 1 to 3 for three days of prayer, fraternal exchange, and reflection on the mission of the Latin Church across the Arab world. Among those present was Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (AVONA)— which covers the Catholic communities of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia — representing one of the region’s largest and most diverse migrant Churches.
The bishops discussed the vocation of the Latin Church in the Middle East, the outcomes of the Synod on Synodality, and shared pastoral and liturgical concerns from their respective territories, including the Gulf communities served by AVONA.
The gathering was marked by a series of high-level meetings. Pope Leo XIV received the delegation on September 3, encouraging the bishops to remain close to their people even as communities shrink and families emigrate, and reminding them that the Church’s fruitfulness lies in fidelity to the Gospel rather than in numbers. He recalled the witness of martyrs from the region and urged the bishops to give particular care to families, young people, and migrants — a theme especially relevant for AVONA, whose flock is composed almost entirely of migrant workers.
The bishops also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, to discuss the humanitarian and social situation across the region; with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; and with Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization — the dicastery to which AVONA directly reports.
The meeting closed with a renewed commitment by CELRA’s members, including Bishop Berardi, to unity in prayer and mission, and to continued witness to the Gospel, peace, and fraternity throughout the Arab region.
