Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Wednesday, 3 August 2022
Kazakhstan looks forward to Pope Francis' upcoming visit, September 13-15
Pope Francis will make his 38th Apostolic Journey abroad to Kazakhstan in mid-September, visiting the city of Nur-Sultan on the occasion of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The Vatican publishes Pope Francis’ itinerary in Kazakhstan, 13-15 September, which will be focused on his presence at the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, and will include a Mass. Bishop Adelio Dell’Oro of Karaganda shares in the expectation of Kazakhs for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to their country, and says the Holy Father brings with him a contribution to peace and solidarity in the world.

Deborah Castellano Lubov/ vaticannews.va :

Pope Francis will visit Kazakhstan this September.

 

In a statement,  Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office announced: "Accepting the invitation of the civil and ecclesial authorities, Pope Francis will make the announced Apostolic Journey to Kazakhstan from 13-15 September this year, visiting the city of Nur-Sultan on the occasion of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions."

 

The theme of this year’s event will be "The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Faiths in the Socio-Spiritual Development of Humanity after the Pandemic".

 

Kazakhstan Bishop: We await Pope's contribution to peace and solidarity

 

 “We were anxiously awaiting this official statement that was given by both the Holy See and the President of Kazakhstan," said Bishop Adelio Dell’Oro of Karaganda, commenting on the official announcement of the Holy Father’s visit in an interview with SIR news agency.

 

Explaining his expectation of the announcement, he recalled that the Holy Father had previously expressed his wish to visit the country when he, along with other priests of the diocese of Milan, met with the Pope in Santa Marta in a 2-hour meeting, on 14 July, the 50th anniversary of Bishop Dell’Oro’s priestly ordination.

 

The Bishop said that when he was given the floor to speak at that occasion, he told the Pope that the people were eagerly waiting for him in Kazakhstan, and the Pope, in reply, expressed his wish that he could come there.

 

“If they have now made the official announcement,” said Bishop Dell’Oro, “it means that the Pope is determined to come.”

 

“We are waiting for the Pope with all our hearts, with the hope that he can give us and the world a contribution of peace and solidarity,” he said.

 

Preparations for the Pope’s visit are still in their earliest stages, and the country’s bishops are still waiting for the official program to be released.

 

However, Bishop Dell’Oro affirms that the President has already asked the heads of the country’s regions to provide assistance to all those who would want to go to meet the Pope, including by providing transportation.

 

Reflecting on the country, the Bishop notes that Kazakhstan is “a country where people of over 130 nationalities and many religions live.” In this light, it presents “a very great ecumenical possibility for Pope Francis.”

 

The VII Congress of World Leaders and Traditional Religions is expected to bring together religious and civil leaders from all over the globe.