Bahrain donates land to build church

Christmas cheer for Christians in Bahrain. Its King, Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, has offered a plot of land to build a Church on Pope's request.

"King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa will offer a plot of land to build a Catholic church as a gesture of good will towards the Pope's request. We hope that His Majesty the King's generosity will also include offering a plot of land to build a new evangelical church as well," Hani Aziz, the pastor of the National Evangelical Church, said in a press statement.

Pope Benedict XVI, following the visit of Bahrain's first ambassador to the Holy See, praised the country's religious tolerance and expressed thanks for the already existing church.

The Gulf state has a population of 530,000 people, nine percent of which is Christian.

During their course of discussions, they "reiterated their common commitment to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue."

The talks emphasized the "importance of collaboration between Christians, Muslims and Jews for the promotion - in the Middle East and throughout the world - of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values" the Vatican statement said.

King Hamad has reportedly invited Pope to visit the Muslim-dominated state which became the first country in the Arabian Gulf to build a Christian church.