The meeting between Pope Leo and Bishop Paolo points to the new Pope’s attention to the global peripheries of the Church.
During the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on May 21, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, greeted Pope Leo XIV in a short but meaningful exchange marked by pastoral solidarity and mutual concern.
“It was a brief but intense meeting,” Bishop Paolo said following the encounter. “I conveyed the greetings of the Church of migrants and expressed our affection and love for him, assuring him of our prayers.”
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia includes the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen — three countries where the Catholic Church ministers primarily to migrant communities.
Bishop Paolo described the encounter as an opportunity to highlight the region’s unique pastoral challenges.
“I also reminded him of the painful situation in Yemen,” he added. “He listened with great attention and responded with warm interest and concern.”
Along with his words, Bishop Paolo offered Pope Leo an envelope containing a short history of the Vicariate and several of his pastoral letters. The two agreed to meet again for a more in-depth discussion.
Overlooked role
Pope Leo XIV has continued the Jubilee catechesis series begun by Pope Francis under the theme “Jesus Christ, Our Hope.” At Wednesday’s audience, he commented on the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing God’s unwavering generosity.
“Jesus tells us that God throws the seed of his Word on all kinds of soil, that is, in any situation of ours,” the Pope said. “God is confident and hopes that sooner or later the seed will blossom. This is how he loves us: He does not wait for us to become the best soil, but he always generously gives us his word.”
The meeting between Pope Leo and Bishop Paolo points to the Church's continued attention to the global peripheries. With growing instability in parts of the Middle East and a large population of migrant workers in the Gulf, the Southern Arabia Vicariate plays a significant, if often overlooked, role in the Church’s mission of accompaniment and service.
