Catholic World News News Feature

Qatar's emir open to papal visit June 16, 2008

The emir of Qatar has expressed an interest in hosting a visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani told the Italian Catholic monthly 30 Giorni: "There is no impediment to a papal visit to our country."

In March 2008, the first Catholic parish church in Qatar was consecrated in the capital city, Doha, on land donated by the emir. The population of Qatar is over 90% Muslim, but there are an estimated 800,000 Christians in residence, most of them foreign workers from Asia.