The Vatican has announced the itinerary for His Holiness Pope Francis on September 12-15 to Hungary and Slovakia which will be the first post-surgery foreign trip.

His trip itinerary includes several impressive events such as encounters with the Slovakian president of the parliament. The Pope will be in Budapest for fewer than seven hours on September 12, primarily to celebrate the concluding Mass of an international Eucharistic Congress. He will also meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orban and preside over meetings with Hungarian bishops and representatives of Christian and Jewish groups.

After a brief stop in Budapest, the Pope will arrive in the afternoon of September 12 in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, and to head immediately into an ecumenical encounter and then a private meeting with members of his Jesuit order. He will spend the following day in Bratislava fulfilling the protocol visits to Slovakian leaders as well as speeches to civil society and diplomatic groups in addition to the country’s priests, nuns and bishops.

The Pope will fly the following day to Kosice to celebrate a Byzantine rite Mass, meet with the country’s Roma community and then its young people. His final day involves a flight to Sastin to celebrate a concluding Mass before returning to Rome.

Despite the fact that the Pope had already confessed that during his last trip, to Iraq in March, he felt the weight of his years, yet he will continue his papal trips to meet with Christians worldwide, to enquire about their affairs, and to bless their countries by celebrating Holy Masses.

The logo

The logo picks up on the theme of the visitation, namely at the bottom is a road, symbolizing the way to the Cross, inside a heart, a reminder of St Joseph's love for Jesus and of Our Lady, patron saint of Slovakia. The seven stars are a reference to the "Seven Sorrows" of the name given to the Virgin Mary. The elements of the logo bear the colors white, blue and red of the Slovak flag and white and yellow of the Vatican flag.

Will Pope visit Lebanon?

On July 1, 2021, the day titled, “The Lord God Has Plans of Peace. Together for Lebanon," His Holiness Pope Francis was joined by leaders of the different Christian Churches and communities of Lebanon on a day of prayer and reflection for their country as  well as for consultations for the future of Lebanon.

In his prayerful plea for peace on the day of reflection and prayer for Lebanon, the Pope expressed his opinion vehemently and forcefully by saying, “Stop using Lebanon and the Middle East for outside interests and profits,” He added, “The Lebanese people must be given the opportunity to be the architects of a better future in their land, without undue interference.

It is hoped that peace and stability will soon be restored to Lebanon, so that the Pope would be able to visit this suffering country and restore the people's hope for a bright future.