The Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ) was an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church with territorial jurisdiction for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
[8] On 25 April 1888, Pope Leo XIII made the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden, located in Yemen.
[12] For many years, Capuchins and other priest had come but could not cope with the harsh reality of the Arabian Peninsula and left after a short stay, most of the missionaries came from neighboring provinces like Agra in The British Raj (India) where the Tuscan Province had a flourishing mission, most of the Apostolic Vicars came from India.
[13] Friars invited other priest, nuns and religious congregations to assist with the mission in Arabia, they completely reorganized and expanded the schools which was much appreciated by the local population.
made a historic step by visiting Bahrain in 1939 when he heard of the presence of Catholics on the island nation, In an audience with the ruler H.H.
was quick to assess the situation following World War 2 and fulfilled the urgent requirement for churches and personnel in Somalia, Yemen, and Bahrain; Msgr.
During this time events in South Yemen were taking a turn for the worse after the British left Aden in 1967, and Communists soon took control; churches were closed, the government took over Catholic schools and orphanages, nuns and most priests sent away and deported.
Gremoli then turned his attention to building churches for the Catholics who were pouring into the Persian Gulf as a result of the oil boom.