Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, held an emotional farewell reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, marking the end of his distinguished Gulf mission. The Vatican Embassy in Kuwait hosted the gathering, which brought together Najeeb Abdulrahman Al-Bader, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, along with ambassadors, government officials, Christian church leaders, business community members and members of the Catholic faithful.
In his farewell address, Archbishop Nugent expressed profound gratitude to Kuwait’s leadership and people, conveying his respect to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. He praised Kuwait’s steadfast commitment to dialogue, moderation and peaceful coexistence, describing these values as particularly important during a time of regional and international uncertainty.
Reflecting on his tenure in the Gulf, the Irish-born archbishop noted a period marked by significant global and regional developments, including the final stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis’ historic visit to Bahrain, the visit of Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Kuwait in January 2026, and the more recent regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. He emphasized how these events demonstrated the fragility of peace, yet highlighted the region’s remarkable resilience and the importance of maintaining dialogue and understanding.
However, Archbishop Nugent reflected that his years in Kuwait were defined primarily by people rather than crises. He recalled the warmth of his welcome, the conversations shared and the friendships developed during his diplomatic and pastoral mission. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation and solidarity of Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic corps, noting that diplomacy at its best is about building trust between people.
Addressing the thousands of Catholic faithful living and working in Kuwait, many far from their home countries and families, he paid tribute to their dedication, generosity and quiet contribution to the country’s social fabric. He also thanked Bishop Aldo Berardi, the priests and religious men and women serving the Catholic Church in Kuwait, recalling religious celebrations, cultural occasions and traditional desert kashtas as cherished memories.
Quoting Irish poet William Butler Yeats—”My glory was, I had such friends”—Archbishop Nugent captured the sentiment of his farewell. He emphasized that friendship transcends geographical distance through bonds of trust and humanity.
Archbishop Nugent leaves Kuwait to assume his next diplomatic assignment as Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic in Prague. He departs with gratitude, carrying memories of Kuwait’s generosity, hospitality, extraordinary diversity and its people.
Source: Times of Kuwait
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