This afternoon Pope Francis went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he spent several minutes in prayer to entrust, as he has done since the beginning of his pontificate in March 2013, the upcoming Apostolic Journey to Kazakhstan to the Madonna Salus Populi Romani, whose icon is kept in the Borghese Chapel. At the end of the prayer, the Pope returned to the Vatican.

As reported by Vatican News, Francis’ 38th Apostolic Journey will begin tomorrow, 13 September, and end on Thursday 15 September. During these three days, the Pope will take part in the “VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions”. At 7.15 a.m. tomorrow he is scheduled to leave for Nur-Sultan, the country’s capital, where Pope Francis will be received with a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, followed by a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic and a meeting with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps. Also on 14 September, after private meetings with some representatives of different faiths, the Pope will celebrate Mass in Nur-Sultan Square.