Oman's first ambassador to the Holy See took office. On Saturday, Mahmoud bin Hamad Alhasani presented his credentials to the Pope.
Alhasani is Oman's ambassador to Switzerland. From then on he represented the Sultanate not only in the Vatican, but also in Liechtenstein.
In February, the Holy See and Oman announced that they would establish diplomatic relations. A few months later, Pope Francis appointed French Archbishop Nicolas Henry Marie Denis Thevenin as his ambassador to the Sultanate.
Strong Christian minority in Oman
Oman is the third largest state on the Arabian Peninsula. Islam is the official religion and there is a significant Christian minority among East Asia's numerous guest workers. Under Pope Francis, the Vatican has significantly increased its diplomatic efforts in the Arab region.
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