The next visit of pilgrim groups to Egypt by Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP) will take place from 4 to 11 October. The program of the visit also includes some stages along the so-called "Way of the Holy Family", the itinerary that unites places crossed according to millennial traditions by Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus when they found refuge in Egypt to escape from the violence of Herod.
The journey, departing from Rome, denies the rumors--relaunched by some Egyptian media at the end of July--that ORP, on the recommendation of the Holy See, had canceled trips to Egypt from its programming. According to these rumors, which proved to be groundless, the alleged annulment of pilgrimages organized by ORP in Egypt was related to the "negligence" and delays by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism in re-qualifying the locality with adequate facilities and tourist reception services included in the "Way of the Holy Family". The allegations on the banned cancellation of ORP's organized journeys appear to be connected to the controversy and to the differences between operators and local subjects involved in the projects to relaunch Egyptian tourism.

Opera Roman Pellegrinaggi is an institution of the Vicariate of Rome, an organ of the Holy See.

For some time now, the Egyptian authorities are committed to promoting the "Way of the Holy Family" in Egypt, also in terms of tourism. On 4 October 2017 (see Fides, 5/10/2017) Pope Francis, during the General Audience on Wednesday, October 4, Pope Francis welcomed the large Egyptian delegation who were in Rome to promote pilgrimages along the "The Way of Holy Family. Initiatives have been put in place by the Egyptian authorities to include the "Way" of the Holy Family in the list of sites recognized as "World Heritage" by UNESCO.