As war spreads through the Gulf, Kuwait’s Catholic Church offers refuge and dignity, standing as a home of faith amid fear and uncertainty.
Newsroom (17/03/2026 Gaudium Press) As war clouds darken the skies over the Gulf, Kuwait’s Catholic community finds consolation not in the absence of fear, but in human dignity and shared faith. “The Church is home,” says Father Sliman Hifawi, assistant parish priest and spokesman for the Catholic Church in Kuwait. “It becomes a safe place in a situation of uncertainty, lived with great human dignity. People sense that this is not a distant crisis, but something that affects their daily life.”
The 37-year-old priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem was born in Jaffa, Israel, and has long been familiar with life in the Gulf. Before his ordination in 2017, he served in Jordan and the West Bank, ministering to communities living amid the fragility of conflict. Now, he leads Kuwait’s Latin Arab, Hispanic, Italian, and neocatechumenal communities through another time of tension — the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran on February 28, which has since spread across the region.
For the Catholic expatriates who make up much of Kuwait’s congregation — mostly workers from Asia — fear runs deep. “There is apprehension, especially among those far from their families,” Father Sliman explains. “But many also feel a real connection to this land. Kuwait has become a place of work, relationships, sacrifice, and lived faith. For that reason, many do not see it simply as a place of passage.”
Kuwait itself is feeling the pressure of war nearby. Earlier this month, a drone attack from Iran struck the U.S. Ali al-Salem Air Base, pushing authorities to tighten security. The Interior Ministry has suspended public gatherings, concerts, and even weddings during Eid al-Fitr, prioritizing calm over celebration. “Life is a mixture of caution, fear, and prayer,” Father Sliman says.
Yet across the fear, hope persists in the rhythms of worship. Despite restrictions, Mass continues, while catechism and community meetings move online. “In difficult times, people need the sacraments,” he says. “It’s a way of caring for God’s people. Catholics must feel that the Church is home — a place where they can find consolation and strength.”
Religion, he notes, has become a quiet bridge in a region split by political strife. Lent and Ramadan now coincide, shaping a landscape where fasting and reflection carry deeper meaning. “When suffering affects everyone, we understand that we cannot remain closed in ourselves,” he says. “Even in war, this can be a time of purification and solidarity.”
The Church’s message is not political but profoundly human. “Every war is a wound to humanity,” Father Sliman pleads. For him, prayer is not an escape from reality but a way to meet it head-on — to lift fear into hope.
Just weeks ago, the Church of Our Lady of Arabia, the first minor basilica in the region, stood as a symbol of faith’s endurance during a peaceful visit from Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Now, its significance has deepened. “That memory becomes a sign,” the priest reflects. “God continues to act in history even when everything seems dark. Christian hope does not deny suffering but helps us look beyond it.”
From his parish in Kuwait, Father Sliman’s message to the wider world remains as simple as it is urgent: “Let us not get used to war. Pray for Kuwait, for the Gulf, for Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and the entire Middle East. Even a small light can become a sign of hope — especially in the darkest nights.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
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