Pope Francis is already in Bratislava, Slovakia, the second stop on his 34th international apostolic journey, whose motto is “With Mary and Joseph on the way to Jesus”, after presiding over the closing Mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

Saint John Paul visited Slovakia three times, the first when it was still federated with the Czech Republic. “At that time, the intention was to give a clear signal in the reconstruction of society in a Christian key after the dictatorship,” “recalling the suffering but projected into the future. The context is clearly different now, but the people and the land are the same ”, said Matteo Bruni at the press conference to present this trip.

Welcome at the airport

At around 3:30 p.m. (local and Rome time), today, September 12, 2021, the papal flight landed at the Budapest International Airport from Rome, after traveling 209 kilometers from Budapest. The apostolic nuncio, Bishop Giacomo Guido Ottonello, and the Slovak chief of protocol boarded the plane by the front stairs to greet the Holy Father.

Later, the Pope was received by the President of the Republic, Zuzana Čaputová, at the foot of the front staircase of the plane. Two children in traditional costumes offer him bread, salt, and flowers as a sign of welcome. After the presentation of the delegations and the Guard of Honor, Francisco, and the president went to the VIP lounge of the airport for a brief private exchange. His Holiness then drives to the Apostolic Nunciature for the Ecumenical Encounter.

Program

Today, the Bishop of Rome is planning an ecumenical meeting at the Apostolic Nunciature in Bratislava and another private meeting with the members of the Society of Jesus at the Apostolic Nunciature in Bratislava.

In the following days, in addition to Bratislava, he will visit the cities of Košice, Prešov, and Šaštin, and will hold meetings with young people, bishops, Romas, and a Byzantine Divine Liturgy. On the last day, Wednesday, September 15, a visit to the Šaštin National Shrine, where the Virgin of Sorrows, the patron saint of Slovakia, is located, and the celebration of Holy Mass on the esplanade of the shrine.