The Kuwait News Agency reported that Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Hamad Al-Mashaan received Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent on August 18, 2026, to mark the conclusion of the latter’s service as the Vatican’s envoy to the country. During the meeting, which comes as Nugent completes more than five years in the post, the two diplomats reviewed bilateral relations though specific details were not disclosed in the dispatch. The agency has traditionally covered such courtesy calls extended to departing ambassadors.
Nugent, an Irish prelate born in 1958, has served as apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar since 2021, Vatican records show. Prior to this assignment, he held posts including apostolic nuncio to Haiti between 2015 and 2021 and earlier roles in Madagascar and Hong Kong. In a March 2026 interview with Vatican News, he spoke about the desire of the local Church to pray and fast for peace in the region, stressing that a long war benefits no one.
Diplomatic relations between Kuwait and the Holy See date back to October 21, 1968, with Kuwait becoming the first Arab Gulf state to forge such ties, according to the Holy See’s official records. This early engagement paved the way for sustained cooperation, including high-level visits such as that of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s secretary of state, who traveled to Kuwait in January 2026 to underscore the strength of the friendship. Parolin’s trip highlighted ongoing collaboration on shared values and regional stability, Vatican News reported.
The apostolic nunciature based in Kuwait City has facilitated numerous interfaith and cultural exchanges over the years. One notable event saw Nugent visit the Grand Mosque of Kuwait on February 2, 2022, accompanied by officials, as recorded on the nunciature’s event log. Such initiatives reflect the commitment to dialogue between the Catholic Church and Muslim communities in the Gulf.
Kuwait maintains its own diplomatic representation to the Holy See with an embassy in Rome, completing the mutual accreditation framework that has endured for nearly six decades. The relationship has been characterized by mutual respect and joint efforts on humanitarian and peace-related matters. As Nugent prepares to depart, a successor is expected to continue this established pattern of engagement.
In recent years, the nuncio has addressed challenges facing the Middle East, including calls for de-escalation amid tensions. His tenure overlapped with global events that impacted diplomatic activities, from the COVID-19 pandemic to subsequent geopolitical shifts. The farewell reception by Al-Mashaan aligns with standard diplomatic practice observed when envoys conclude their missions in Kuwait.
