History of the Catholic Church in Kuwait – Catholic Church Kuwait

Catholic Church Kuwait · Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Arabia

History of the Catholic
Church in Kuwait

From a tent in the desert to the Vicariate of Northern Arabia

“Through you, I will bring light to the nations.” — Isaiah 42:6

The story of the Catholic Church in Kuwait is a story of quiet faith, remarkable perseverance, and God's abundant grace. From the first handful of Catholics who gathered in a tent on Christmas morning in 1945, to a vibrant community of over 50,000–60,000 faithful of more than 40 nationalities worshipping in 9 languages today — this is a journey of light shining in the desert.

The Church in Kuwait is part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Arabia, which covers Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. It was first established as a Prefecture Apostolic in 1953 and has been shepherded by four Vicar Apostolics to date, with the pastoral care entrusted to the OFM Capuchin Friars since 2009.

This timeline traces the significant milestones that have shaped the Church — from the first resident priest and the laying of the Cathedral cornerstone, to the founding of each parish and the renewal of the Vicariate in our time.

Era 1

Early Beginnings

1911

First Catholics Set Foot in Kuwait

The first Catholics to set foot on Kuwait soil were likely Portuguese sailors at the port of Al Qurain. There is no record of any chaplains having ministered to them here. If any did, they could have come from Bahrain, where a Chapel had been in use for half a century.

1934

Oil Discovery

Oil, the KOC, and the First Catholic Workers

The discovery of oil and the establishment of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) — a US-British joint venture — marked a new era. Catholics, employed mainly at the Political Agency and Gray Mackenzie Shipping Line, began to arrive. The first oil wells were sunk in 1936, bringing more workers from overseas.

Era 2

The Founding Years

1945Christmas

✦ Milestone

First Holy Mass in Kuwait

By end of 1945, quite a few Catholics — especially from India, Lebanon and Europe — had arrived in Ahmadi. Rev. Fr. James Larkin SJ, from the Baghdad College, made an adventurous journey to Kuwait at the request of the KOC faithful. According to Church records, the first Mass in Kuwait was celebrated on Christmas morning 1945 in a tent in Magua — a historical event marking the birth of Catholic life in Kuwait.

1946

First Apostle

Fr. Carmel Spiteri & the Legion of Mary

Rev. Fr. Carmel Spiteri, a Carmelite from the Basra mission, periodically visited Kuwait and organised the original nucleus of the parish in Ahmadi. On 26th April 1946, he established a Presidium of the Legion of Mary, giving it the title "Rosa Mystica" — the first organised Catholic community in Kuwait. Mass was subsequently celebrated at the Gray Mackenzie office and later in the Chapel of the American Mission Hospital.

19485 April

✦ First Resident Priest

Fr. Teofano Stella Arrives — First Chapel Blessed

Rev. Fr. Teofano Ubaldo Stella, OCD, arrived on 5th April 1948 as the first resident priest, employed by the KOC as Catholic Chaplain. By then the faithful numbered around 700. The KOC provided a disused Nissen shed (former electricity power station) which Fr. Stella transformed into the first Chapel. After tireless work, the Chapel was ready by November 1948, and was blessed on 8th December 1948 — dedicated to Our Lady of Arabia & St. Elias the Prophet by Fr. Spiteri.

1949

Apostolic Delegate Visits Kuwait

On 1st April 1949, the Apostolic Delegate for Iraq, Most Rev. Msgr. Du Chayla, visited Kuwait for the celebration of the Pope's Golden Jubilee. He administered Confirmation to the faithful and celebrated Mass in the cinema hall, distributing Holy Communion to over 500 people — a testament to the rapid growth of the Catholic community in Ahmadi.

195330 June

✦ Church Structure

Kuwait Erected as Independent Prefecture Apostolic

Pope Pius XII separated Kuwait from the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia and erected it into an independent Prefecture Apostolic on 30th June 1953, entrusting it to the Order of the Discalced Carmelites (OCD). Fr. Stella was installed as Prefect Apostolic. A third resident priest, Rev. Fr. Herman Mizzi, a Maltese Carmelite, arrived to care for the growing Catholic population in Kuwait City.

19542 Dec

✦ Vicariate

Kuwait Raised to a Bishopric — Vicariate Apostolic

On 2nd December 1954, Pope Pius XII raised Kuwait to become a full Bishopric (Vicariate Apostolic). The elevation was unexpected but was acclaimed as a well-deserved recognition of the flourishing Catholic community.

1955

✦ First Bishop

Bishop Stella Consecrated — Cornerstone of Our Lady of Arabia Laid

On 8th September 1955, the cornerstone for the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi was laid by Bishop Elect Msgr. Stella. On 3rd October 1955, Kuwait's first Bishop, Monsignor Teofano Ubaldo Stella, was consecrated in Milan — accompanied by a sizeable delegation of his Kuwait parishioners. By this year, Holy Communions had risen from 1,171 in 1948 to 25,647 annually — a measure of the remarkable growth of faith.

1956Easter

⛪ Church Blessed

Church of Our Lady of Arabia Blessed in Ahmadi

On Easter Sunday, 1st April 1956, Bishop Stella blessed the new Church of Our Lady of Arabia in central Ahmadi — a generous gift from the Kuwait Oil Company. It replaced the original Nissen shed Chapel on the Ridge which had served the community since 1948.

Era 3

Growth & Expansion

195727 Jan

✦ Cathedral

First Stone Laid for Holy Family Cathedral

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Al Salim Al Sabah graciously granted Bishop Stella use of the land in Kuwait City for the Cathedral. Architect Emilio Tenca of Milan was commissioned to design it. On 27th January 1957, the first stone was laid. Mindful of the transient stay of the community, Bishop Stella dedicated the Cathedral to “The Holy Family in the Desert” — a title he felt would keep before Catholics the thought that the Holy Family itself had spent time in exile fulfilling God's Will.

19593 Nov

⛪ St. Thérèse Origins

First Mass in Salmiya — Birth of a Parish

A small community of Catholics had grown in the suburban district of Salmiya. Lack of transport to Kuwait City made attending Cathedral Masses difficult. The first Mass in Salmiya was celebrated on Tuesday, 3rd November 1959 by Bishop Stella, at the suggestion of Mr. Archie Menezes, at whose residence the Mass was held. Around 40 faithful attended — a number that gradually grew to almost 80, especially in summer months when service was held on the terrace.

196116 Mar

✦ Cathedral Consecrated

Holy Family Cathedral Blessed & Kuwait Independence

On 16th March 1961, Bishop Stella blessed the Holy Family Cathedral and the first Mass was celebrated. On 19th June 1961, Kuwait became an independent state. That same year, Bishop Stella invited the Rosary Sisters from Jordan and Lebanon to start the Fajer Al Sabah School, which opened with 204 students, coinciding with Kuwait's Independence.

1964

🎓 Education

Al-Amal School Founded

Bishop Stella brought the Chaldean Sisters, Daughters of the Immaculate Conception, from Iraq to open the Al-Amal School — a further investment in Catholic education in Kuwait. The Sisters would later have to leave Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion in August 1990.

1966

Second Bishop

Msgr. Victor Sanmiguel Appointed Apostolic Administrator

Bishop Stella was recalled in accordance with Carmelite Order directives. Monsignor Victor Sanmiguel, OCD (Province of Navarre) arrived on 4th June 1966 to shepherd a flock of approximately 17,000 Catholics of 40+ nationalities speaking 25 languages. His prime concern was to be "a common Father to everyone". He developed diplomatic ties between the Kuwaiti Government and the Holy See, advanced Catholic schools, and formed parish organisations including the Altar Boys' Sodality and the Charismatic Prayer Group.

1967

⛪ Salmiya Chapel

New Premises Secured in Salmiya

As the Salmiya Catholic community grew, new premises were secured for the Chapel. These were used until 1970, when Mr. Menezes acquired a villa with a garage and courtyard, later converted into a large hall accommodating over 100 parishioners.

1969

🎓 Carmel School

Apostolic Carmel Sisters Arrive; Carmel School Founded

On 27th March 1969, four Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel from India arrived at the invitation of Indian expatriates and Msgr. Sanmiguel. On 8th April 1969, the Carmel School was inaugurated with just four students in a rented apartment at Shamiyeh. Additionally, in April 1969, formal diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the State of Kuwait were officially established.

19745 Feb

⛪ Holy Redeemer Chapel

Present Salmiya Chapel Premises Opened — Holy Redeemer

The current premises for the Chapel in Salmiya were secured in January 1974. Monsignor Sanmiguel personally bore the cost of renovation. On Wednesday, 5th February 1974, the opening ceremony was performed by Msgr. Sanmiguel, who dedicated the Chapel to the Holy Redeemer — the name it would carry until 2006.

197616 Jul

Second Bishop Consecrated

Msgr. Sanmiguel Consecrated as Bishop in Baghdad

After ten years as Apostolic Administrator, Msgr. Victor Sanmiguel was consecrated as Bishop on 16th July 1976 in Baghdad — a beautiful and unforgettable ceremony attended, among others, by the retired Bishop Stella.

Era 4

Trial & Liberation

198215 Jan

Third Bishop

Bishop Francis Micallef Takes Charge

Bishop Sanmiguel retired at age 78 and returned to India. Monsignor Francis George Micallef, OCD — Kuwait's third Catholic Bishop — took charge of the Vicariate on 15th January 1982. Under his episcopate, remarkable transformation occurred within the Church, with special focus on catechism, children's Masses, and youth ministry — inspiring several young people toward the priesthood.

19902 Aug

⚠ Iraqi Invasion

Kuwait Invaded — The Church Stands Firm

Kuwait was invaded and occupied for seven long months by the Iraqi military on 2nd August 1990. The impact on the Church was severe, especially in Ahmadi. Bishop Francis Micallef bravely remained in Kuwait, celebrating Mass in houses and in the Church under dangerous circumstances. Rev. Fr. Mizzi worked to protect the Church from violence. The Statue of Our Lady of Arabia was pushed down and broken by unknown persons — it was later restored by parishioners. The Church and Priests' residence sustained damage from bombs.

1991

✦ Liberation

Kuwait Liberated — The Church Bell Rings

Kuwait was liberated from the Iraqi aggressors. The Church bell rang in Kuwait City in joyful celebration. Slowly yet steadily, with the help of volunteers, the damage to the Church was repaired, and the community began to rebuild its life and faith.

199715 Oct

✦ New Complex

New Cathedral Complex Inaugurated

Post-war Kuwait experienced a new surge in Catholic population. Bishop Micallef recognised that the Cathedral could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. The new Co-Cathedral Complex — including the Bishop's Villa, Rectory, Parish Halls, Grotto of Our Lady, and Resource Centre — was inaugurated on 15th October 1997, a proud achievement of Bishop Micallef's episcopate.

Era 5

Into the New Millennium

2000

Great Jubilee Year & Resident Papal Nuncio in Kuwait

The Vicariate celebrated the Great Jubilee Year with spiritual fervour. From the beginning of 2000, the Vatican appointed a resident Apostolic Nuncio in Kuwait, also serving as Apostolic Delegate for the Gulf States, and Nuncio to Yemen, Bahrain and Qatar. The new Bishop's Residence was blessed on 8th September 2000. The Vicariate's official website was also launched on 8th September 2000.

20018 Jun

⛪ Salmiya Renovated

Holy Redeemer Chapel Renovated & Extended

The Holy Redeemer Chapel in Salmiya underwent a major renovation — remodelling and extending the existing premises after more than 12 months of planning and less than three months of construction. Following nearly six months of closure, the new extended Chapel with annexe was inaugurated and blessed by Bishop Micallef on 8th June 2001. Also that year, the new Ahmadi Church extension hall — a generous gift from the Kuwait Government and KOC — was inaugurated on 17th April 2001.

2004

✦ Golden Jubilee

Year of Jubilees — 50 Years of the Vicariate

2004 was the Year of Jubilees in the Vicariate — two Golden Jubilees were celebrated: that of Vicar Apostolic Bishop Francis Micallef (8th May), and the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Vicariate of Kuwait (2nd December). The Christian Churches Fellowship in Kuwait was also officially restarted in October 2004.

20052 Sep

✦ Fourth Bishop

Bishop Camillo Ballin Ordained — Fourth Vicar Apostolic

Bishop Micallef retired in July 2005. On 2nd September 2005, Msgr. Camillo Ballin, MCCJ (a Comboni Missionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) was ordained Bishop in the Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City, by His Eminence Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe. He was installed as the fourth Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait.

200628 Jul

⛪ Parish Erected

Holy Redeemer Becomes St. Thérèse Parish — Canonically Erected

By Decree on 28th July 2006, Bishop Camillo Ballin renamed the Holy Redeemer Chapel as the Church of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and canonically erected it as a Parish (Canon 515). The Parish comprises: Messila, Ras Salmiya, Salwa, Rumaithiya, Maidan Hawally, Sabah Al Salem, Mishref and Bayan. Rev. Fr. Berchmans Aruldoss, OCD, was installed as the first Parish Priest.

200824 Sep

⛪ Mission Centre

Comboni Mission Centre Opened in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

Bishop Camillo Ballin declared open the Comboni Mission Centre in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh (Abbassiya) on 24th September 2008. St. Daniel Comboni — Bishop, Missionary, and Founder of the Comboni Missionaries — was proclaimed its patron.

200931 May

✦ OFM Capuchin

OFM Capuchin Friars Entrusted with Jus Commissionis

The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples issued a decree by which, on 31st May 2009, the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor (OFM Capuchin) was entrusted with the Jus Commissionis — full pastoral responsibility and authority — of the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuwait.

Era 6

Vicariate of Northern Arabia

201029 Jan

⛪ Fourth Parish

St. Daniel Comboni Parish Canonically Erected

On 29th January 2010, Bishop Camillo Ballin blessed and canonically erected the fourth parish in Kuwait — St. Daniel Comboni Parish — in the parish church at Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Rev. Fr. Albert Saveriraj, OCD, was installed as the first Parish Priest. The parish areas include: Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Dhaieel, Airport, Wista, Subhan and Qurain 1–4.

20115 Jan

✦ Our Lady of Arabia

Our Lady of Arabia Proclaimed Patroness of Both Vicariates

On 5th January 2011, the Holy See officially proclaimed Our Lady of Arabia as Patroness of both Vicariates in the Arabian Peninsula — the Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait and the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia. A Solemnity in her honour is celebrated on the Saturday preceding the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time. His Eminence Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera arrived in Kuwait to personally inaugurate the occasion.

201131 May

✦ New Title

Vicariate Renamed — Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia

With effect from 31st May 2011, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples decreed that the Vicariate of Kuwait is now called the “Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia” and includes the territories of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCJ, assumed the title of "Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia". A new chapter began — rooted in history, looking forward in hope.

Era 7

Resilience & Dialogue

2012

Interfaith

Bishop Ballin Speaks Out on Religious Freedom

Bishop Camillo Ballin publicly criticised proposed legislation that would restrict Christian places of worship in Kuwait. He stated: “There'll be problems if the government adopts this proposal; it's out of step with the traditions of Kuwait, which seeks to be an open, tolerant country welcoming other religions besides Islam.” His voice was instrumental in preserving the Church's standing in Kuwait through respectful, diplomatic engagement.

201510 Sep

✦ Holy See Agreement

Historic Agreement on New Church Land Signed with Holy See

On 10th September 2015, an agreement in principle between the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Holy See's Secretariat of State was signed — by Bishop Paul Richard Gallagher on behalf of the Holy See and Sheikh Saba Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on behalf of Kuwait — regarding the concession of land for new Catholic places of worship. Kuwait had already been the first Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1968 and continued to lead the Gulf in religious tolerance.

2016

⚠ Opposition

Parliamentary Opposition to New Church Construction

Following the January 2016 approval by Kuwait City Municipality of land concession for new Christian places of worship, a group of Kuwaiti parliamentarians and legal advisors publicly opposed the decision. Despite the legal and political pushback, the Church continued its ministry faithfully and maintained respectful dialogue with Kuwaiti authorities — a hallmark of its presence in Kuwait since 1948.

2023Dec

✦ Diamond Jubilee

75th Anniversary — Diamond Jubilee of Our Lady of Arabia

The Church in Kuwait marked the Diamond Jubilee (75th anniversary) of the first Catholic church built in the Gulf — the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi, originally blessed on 8th December 1948. The jubilee was a time of deep thanksgiving, celebrating 75 years of the Church's faithful ministry to the Catholic community of Kuwait in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.

Era 8

Loss & Renewal

202012 Apr

✝ In Memoriam

Bishop Camillo Ballin Passes Away — Easter Sunday

Bishop Camillo Angelo Ballin, MCCJ — the first Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, beloved shepherd of the Catholic Church in Kuwait for 15 years — passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, 12th April 2020 in Rome, where he had been undergoing treatment at the Gemelli Polyclinic following a diagnosis of lung cancer. Born on 24th June 1944 in Italy, he dedicated his entire life to the missions and the Church in the Arabian Peninsula. His passing on the very day of the Resurrection was seen by many as a deeply fitting and grace-filled departure. "Truly this was a shepherd who gave his life for his flock."

2021

Sede Vacante

Vicariate Administered During Interregnum

Following the death of Bishop Ballin, the Vicariate of Northern Arabia was administered during a period of sede vacante. The OFM Capuchin friars and all the parish priests continued to faithfully shepherd the community through this transitional period, also navigating the significant challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic — including restrictions on public gatherings and the adaptation of Mass services.

202328 Jan

✦ Fifth Bishop

Bishop Aldo Berardi Appointed — Fifth Vicar Apostolic

On 28th January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. — currently Vicar General of the Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives (Trinitarian Order) — as the new Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, succeeding the late Bishop Camillo Ballin. Bishop Berardi became the fifth Vicar Apostolic to shepherd the Church in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, continuing the mission with renewed energy and vision.

Era 9 · Most Recent

A Historic First for the Peninsula

20234 Nov

✦ Holy Door

Extraordinary Jubilee of St. Arethas — Holy Door Opened

In commemoration of the 1,500th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Arethas and Companions (523–2023) in Najran, Saudi Arabia, Bishop Aldo Berardi opened the Holy Door at the Holy Family Co-Cathedral in Kuwait City on 4th November 2023 — inaugurating an Extraordinary Jubilee Year across the entire Vicariate. A special privilege granted by the Holy Father, the faithful could obtain a Plenary Indulgence by entering through the Holy Door and fulfilling the conditions of confession, charity, and prayer. The Jubilee Plenary Indulgence period closed on 23rd October 2024.

Commemorative St. Arethas Jubilee Coins (KD 8 each) were also issued — featuring the image of St. Arethas and Our Lady of Arabia. All proceeds were directed toward the restoration and renovation of the Holy Family Co-Cathedral.

2023Dec

✦ Diamond Jubilee

75th Anniversary — Diamond Jubilee of Our Lady of Arabia

2024–2025

🔨 Restoration

Co-Cathedral Restoration & Jubilee 2025 Pilgrim Church

The Holy Family Co-Cathedral underwent restoration and renovation works, funded in part through the proceeds of the St. Arethas Jubilee Coins. As part of Jubilee Year 2025 — Pilgrims of Hope, Pope Francis officially designated the Holy Family Co-Cathedral as one of the Vicariate's Jubilee Shrines, alongside the Shrine of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Doha (Qatar). The Jubilee Door at the Co-Cathedral was opened on 29th December 2024 by Bishop Berardi, with a special Mass marking the solemn opening of the Holy Year, and closed on 24th December 2025. Throughout the year, pilgrims visiting and praying in the Co-Cathedral were able to obtain a Plenary Indulgence.

202528 Jun

✦ Minor Basilica Decree

Vatican Decreed Elevation of Our Lady of Arabia to Minor Basilica

On 28th June 2025, the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued a historic decree elevating the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi, Kuwait, to the rank of a Minor Basilica — the first such elevation ever in the Arabian Peninsula. Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., called it “the first of its kind for the Gulf region.” The title of Minor Basilica is conferred on churches of special liturgical, pastoral, historical, spiritual, or architectural significance.

202616 Jan

✦ HISTORIC DAY

Solemn Proclamation — Our Lady of Arabia Minor Basilica

On Friday, 16th January 2026, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin — Vatican Secretary of State — personally arrived in Kuwait to preside over the solemn Mass formally proclaiming the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi as a Minor Basilica. The ceremony was attended by Kuwaiti officials, politicians, diplomats, and representatives of the Kuwait Oil Company.

In his homily, Cardinal Parolin described the occasion as “truly historic — not only for the Church in Kuwait, but for the Church throughout the entire Arabian Peninsula.” He reflected: “Built upon the sands of the desert, this basilica reminds us that Mary herself once found refuge in those same desert lands, where she cared for, raised, and safeguarded the one Mediator between God and the human family, Jesus Christ.”

During his visit, Cardinal Parolin held bilateral talks with Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, reaffirming that “Kuwait was the first Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See.” On designated days, the faithful may now receive a Plenary Indulgence at the Basilica.

202615–17 Jan

✦ 65th Anniversary

Holy Family Co-Cathedral — 65 Years of Consecration

The Holy Family Co-Cathedral in Kuwait City celebrated its 65th Anniversary of Consecration as part of the historic two-day visit of Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Kuwait on 15th–16th January 2026.

On 15th January, Cardinal Parolin met with the clergy and religious of the entire Vicariate at the Co-Cathedral — urging them to be “witnesses of hope” and “prophets of peace” in a pluralistic, multicultural region. He then celebrated Mass at the Co-Cathedral to mark its 65th Consecration Anniversary, highlighting the Cathedral's unique role in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, calling it “an authentic meeting place… a safe harbour and a place of peace and harmony.”

On 17th January, Bishop Aldo Berardi presided over a solemn Pontifical Mass at 6:30 PM at the Co-Cathedral, formally commemorating the 65-year jubilee with the entire community. The celebrations — coinciding with the elevation of Our Lady of Arabia to a Minor Basilica and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity — made this one of the most historically rich weeks in the Church's 75-year presence in Kuwait.

A Living History: The story of the Catholic Church in Kuwait is still being written. From a Christmas Mass in a tent in 1945 to the first Minor Basilica in the Arabian Peninsula in 2026 — every milestone is a testament to God's faithfulness and the devotion of generations of faithful who called Kuwait their temporary home.

“Duc in altum — Put out into the deep. We remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever.”

— Hebrews 13:8 · Adapted from Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II