‘My Glory Was, I Had Such Friends’: Archbishop Nugent Bids Farewell to Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 26: On the completion of his tenure in Kuwait, His Grace Archbishop Eugene M. Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, hosted a farewell reception on August 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as he prepares to take up his new assignment as Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic.

The reception, attended by chief guest Najeeb Abdulrahman Al-Bader, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs, was also attended by dignitaries, ambassadors and representatives of various embassies, members of the business community, Christian church leaders, priests, nuns, friends and members of the Catholic faithful. In a deeply moving and reflective farewell speech, Archbishop Nugent expressed his gratitude for his years of service and shared memories of his diplomatic and pastoral mission in Kuwait and across the Gulf.

Archbishop Eugene M. Nugent with Najeeb Abdulrahman Al-Bader, Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs

The Archbishop recalled the major events that marked his tenure, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis's historic visit to Bahrain, the Vatican Secretary of State's visit to Kuwait in January, and, more recently, the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. These events, he said, served as reminders of how fragile peace can be, even in a country that has demonstrated remarkable resilience.

Despite these challenges, Archbishop Nugent said that when he looked back on his years in Kuwait, he did not think first of crises or headlines, but of people — the warmth with which he was received, the doors that were opened to him, the conversations shared and the friendships formed.

Archbishop Nugent expressed his profound respect and gratitude to His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince for the consideration consistently shown to the Holy See and to him personally. He also praised Kuwait’s commitment to dialogue, moderation and peaceful coexistence.

He offered particular thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its officials, stressing that diplomacy goes beyond protocol and carefully chosen words and is ultimately about “building trust between people.” He said he had been fortunate to experience that trust during his mission in Kuwait.

Addressing members of the diplomatic corps, Archbishop Nugent thanked them for their friendship and solidarity, recalling the many national days, official occasions, receptions and other gatherings they shared. He also expressed appreciation to the priests, religious men and women and all those serving the Catholic Church for their dedication and generosity.

He recalled the many religious festivals, cultural celebrations, outings, visits and gatherings around tables that became part of his memories of Kuwait. He said these encounters were moments when differences of religion, nationality, and culture seemed to disappear, and people met one another as friends.

The Archbishop spoke with particular affection about the thousands of Catholic faithful he met in parishes and communities, many of whom live far from their own countries and families. Despite working hard, often quietly and without recognition, they continued to attend Mass with joy, pray with extraordinary faith, care for one another and keep hope alive.

“I came here as a bishop to encourage them in their faith. But very often, they were the ones who encouraged me in mine,” Archbishop Nugent said, expressing his lasting gratitude for their witness.

Although he said he was leaving Kuwait with deep emotion, Archbishop Nugent stressed that he was not leaving with sadness, but with gratitude. He said his next chapter would begin in Prague, where he will take up his new mission as Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic.

Looking back on his time in Kuwait, he said he would remember the country’s generosity, hospitality, remarkable diversity and, above all, its people. Quoting Irish poet William Butler Yeats, he summed up his feelings with the words: “My glory was, I had such friends.”

Concluding his farewell, Archbishop Nugent thanked God for the grace of his years in Kuwait; the State and people of Kuwait for welcoming him; the Church for sustaining him; and his team and his friends for accompanying him on his journey. He also offered his prayers for His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, the people of Kuwait and the wider region, asking for God’s blessing and peace.

by John C Fernandes
Online Media Manager - Arab Times