Papal Nuncio bids farewell to Kuwait: I will carry with me unforgettable memories and friendships
The Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent, expressed his deep emotion at bidding farewell to Kuwait, affirming that the years he spent living and working there constituted an exceptional experience that would remain firmly etched in his memory.
This sentiment was expressed during a celebration hosted by the Czech Ambassador to Kuwait, Juraj Chmel, on the occasion of Czech State Day and the commemoration of Saint Wenceslaus, the first Czech saint and patron saint of the country, alongside the farewell to Nugent, who concluded his mission in the country and is heading to Prague to assume his new post. The event was attended by several ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Kuwait.
Nugent stated that the Church of Our Lady of the Island in Ahmadi had become very dear to his heart, adding, “I thank God for these years I spent in Kuwait, for the people I met, the friendships I built, the faith we shared, and the hospitality I received.”
At the conclusion of his speech, Nugent expressed his gratitude to Kuwait and to the friends he left behind, affirming that he would carry with him unforgettable memories of this experience and the friendships that enriched his life, wishing Kuwait and the Church within it, as well as in the Gulf region, continued goodness and peace.
For his part, the Czech Ambassador to Kuwait, Juraj Chmel, affirmed that the region is currently experiencing “a very fragile ceasefire,” following months of repeated shelling by Iran. He emphasized the importance of recalling the values of peace, mercy, and human solidarity in light of the conflicts witnessed worldwide.
He added, “In a world witnessing more than twenty ongoing armed conflicts across different regions, it has become crucial for us to remember figures and values of the caliber of Saint Wenceslaus.”
He continued, “We ourselves are directly witnessing one of these conflicts, whose repercussions have far exceeded the boundaries of the Gulf region. After enduring repeated shelling by Iran for months, we are now living through a period of a very fragile ceasefire.”
The ambassador called for drawing inspiration from the values of Saint Wenceslaus in dealing with crises, stating, “We must all strive to be more like Saint Wenceslaus, even if only to a small extent, and to be kinder, more merciful, and more concerned with others,” expressing his hope that the occasion would serve as a celebration “of all that is good and human.”
Regarding the coincidence of the celebration with Nugent’s departure, Chmel clarified that Saint Wenceslaus Day falls on September 28, but he chose to hold the event in August in coordination with the Apostolic Nuncio, given the latter’s commencement of his new duties in the Czech Republic.
He said, “I feel a mixture of sadness and happiness at the same time; I am sad because our Apostolic Nuncio is leaving Kuwait, and happy because my country will gain a diplomat and a distinguished figure of this caliber.”
