Cardinal Parolin highlighted that the celebration coincided with the 65th anniversary of the consecration of the Cathedral of the Holy Family, a historic center of encounter and dialogue among people of different cultures and religions. Expressing joy at his first visit to Kuwait, the Cardinal described the significance of celebrating the Eucharist in a church “between the sea and the desert,” symbolizing spiritual refuge for generations of believers from diverse nations who came to Kuwait in pursuit of work and found faith and peace through Christ.

Reflecting on the cathedral’s patronage, he said the Holy Family of Nazareth represents a model of Christian life rooted in communion, faith, hope, and love—values that form the foundation of family and community life. He drew attention to the spiritual symbolism of Kuwait’s geography, describing the desert as a place of silence, repentance, and encounter with God, and the sea as a symbol of providence, unity, and new beginnings echoing the Gospel image of Christ calling His disciples from the shore.