‘Wherever I Go, Part of My Heart Will Remain Here’: Papal Nuncio Bids Farewell to Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 22: Papal Nuncio to Kuwait Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent is preparing to begin a new diplomatic mission as Papal Nuncio to the Czech Republic, leaving the Gulf with memories and friendships that he says will remain with him wherever he goes. Reflecting on his years in Kuwait, Nugent said his experience taught him that friendship can transcend religion, nationality, language and culture, adding that while he arrived in the Gulf as a representative of the Holy See carrying a mission of dialogue and encounter, he leaves having received far more from the region than he expected to give. "Wherever the road leads me, a part of my heart will remain here," he said.

Nugent made the remarks during a farewell ceremony held in his honor by the General Manager of Aman Exchange Company, attended by the ambassadors of the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Bangladesh, as well as members of Kuwait's business community, civil society and his friends. In a light-hearted moment, Nugent joked that he might find himself in the cold of Prague wondering why he had ever complained about Kuwait's heat.

Looking back on his time in the Gulf, Nugent recalled some of the major events that shaped his diplomatic mission. He arrived in the region as the world was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, only to witness a succession of international and regional crises, including the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza and the escalating military confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran. He said these developments brought the reality of war much closer to the Gulf, with periods of anxiety, airspace closures, flight disruptions and the loss of employment for some friends and members of the community.

Despite those difficult moments, Nugent said his years in the region were also marked by important moments of joy, hope and dialogue. Among the highlights was Pope Francis' historic visit to Bahrain in November 2022, which Nugent described as an unforgettable moment for the Catholic community and a powerful demonstration of dialogue, fraternity and peaceful coexistence. He also highlighted the visit of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, to Kuwait last January for the elevation of Our Lady of the Arabs Church in Ahmadi to the status of a "minor basilica." Nugent described the occasion as a historic milestone and recognition of the Catholic Church's long presence in Kuwait.

However, Nugent said the memories he will treasure most are not limited to major political or diplomatic events. He recalled religious and cultural celebrations, national days, meetings with Kuwaiti youth and expatriate communities, and countless conversations that began as formal encounters but gradually developed into personal friendships. He praised the hospitality he experienced in Kuwait and across the Gulf, recalling dinners around family tables, camping trips in the desert, visits to chalets and gatherings in diwaniyas.

For Nugent, these informal encounters offered a different form of diplomacy. If diplomacy is about building bridges between peoples, he said he discovered that "some of the strongest bridges are built over the dinner table." He also recalled visits to American and Italian military bases, where he held prayers during Christmas and Easter. Those visits, he said, reminded him that behind every military uniform are men and women living far from their homelands, carrying heavy responsibilities and making personal sacrifices.

"The Gulf taught me that friendship can transcend the boundaries of nationality, religion, language and culture," Nugent said. He stressed that the human being would remain at the center of what he remembers from his Gulf experience, saying that the relationships he built would travel with him into his next mission. He concluded by thanking his friends and everyone who shared his years in the region for their friendship, hospitality and memories, and prayed that Kuwait and the Gulf countries would continue to enjoy peace, stability and prosperity.