Prayer, unity essential as conflict spreads to Gulf States, says apostolic vicar of region

The apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia warned that the current military escalation in the Persian Gulf amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war is a conflict with “ancient roots” that poses a serious threat to the Middle East and the wider world.

In an email response sent March 3 to OSV News, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the apostolic vicar, said that Iran’s attacks on U.S. assets, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and disruption of the Gulf States’ oil and gas industry, “wasn’t a surprise, as the threat had been looming for some time.”

“This is a conflict with ancient roots that raises great concerns for the Gulf, the Middle East and the entire world,” the bishop said. “From the very beginning, our first thought was to invite everyone to pray — to remain united in prayer and to support one another in facing difficulties.”

Peace, he added, “is truly a gift that comes from God; a gift that we must insistently ask for, welcome and promote.”

After the U.S. and Israel launched their Feb. 28 attack, which killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian military launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. military bases and struck critical energy infrastructure hubs in the hopes of pressuring U.S. allies and threatening global economic instability.

Bishop Martinelli, whose vicariate includes the UAE, Oman and Yemen, told OSV News that although he is concerned for the safety of his flock, “the defense system in the United Arab Emirates has been able to intercept all the attacks” and was “reassured by the measures in place.”

The Vicariate of Southern Arabia is comprised entirely of migrants; among them, the Filipino community remains the largest and most active demographic. The Italian bishop said that he reached out to the faithful “as soon as the conflict began,” urging them to “remain united in prayer and solidarity.”

“I believe the most dangerous thing is isolation — feeling alone. For this reason, it is important to promote simple initiatives that help us experience that we are together, that we walk together,” he said.

“Our parishes are organized into linguistic communities, so that everyone can turn to specific persons in case of need,” he added. “The Filipino faithful form the largest community and are particularly generous in serving and assisting those in need, supporting one another in faith and charity.”

Bishop Martinelli told OSV News that the Church’s mission is to “sustain a strong sense of belonging and solidarity among all the faithful.”

“Through the various liturgical and educational initiatives already underway, we seek to nurture hope even in these troubled times, encouraging everyone to look to the future with confidence, certain that the Lord will not abandon us,” he said.

An essential part of its mission, he noted, is to “cultivate and promote interreligious dialogue, especially in our daily relationships with our neighbors.”

The bishop said that at the beginning of a pastoral visit, the Catholic parish hosted a group of Muslim workers for Iftar, the breaking of the Ramadan fast. For Bishop Martinelli, the event was “a meaningful moment of fraternity and mutual respect.”

“Dialogue among people of different faiths is crucial for promoting lasting peace,” he said.

A Capuchin Franciscan, Bishop Martinelli highlighted the significance of the Jubilee Year coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi amid the current conflict engulfing the region.

St. Francis, he said, “is the saint of peace and mercy, of universal brotherhood, and of praise to God for all creation. These are essential values for addressing the current crisis in the Gulf.”

Expressing his hope that the “Saint of Assisi inspire(s) paths of reconciliation,” Bishop Martinelli noted that churches throughout the vicariate recite the prayer composed by St. Francis.

That prayer, he said, “is particularly meaningful these days: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.'”

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