“There is an urgent need for concrete action to support families and the birth rate,” Pope Francis said.
Newsroom (13/09/2022 12:51 AM Gaudium Press) — The papal plane touches down in Nur-Sultan as Pope Francis arrives for his 38th Apostolic Journey abroad.
On the eve of his 38th Apostolic Journey abroad, Pope Francis went Monday, according to his custom, to the Roman Basilica of Saint Mary Major to entrust his visit to Our Lady. He prayed for a while before the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani in the early afternoon before returning to the Vatican, according to the Holy See Press Office.
Pope Francis kicked off his Apostolic Visit to Kazakhstan on Tuesday as the papal plane landed at the Nur-Sultan Nazarbayev International Airport at 1:27 PM local time (GMT +6).
He was welcomed to the Central Asian nation by a delegation of civil and religious leaders, including President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The Pope’s first official visit is a courtesy visit to the presidential palace, where he meets with the country’s authorities, civil servants, and diplomatic corps.
Interreligious dialogue at the forefront of the visit
Pope Francis visits the Central Asian nation mainly to attend the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
He takes part in the opening session of the Congress on Tuesday morning and will greet its participants, who hail from around 100 nations.
According to Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, the Pope’s presence will lift the profile of this 7th interreligious congress.
“He is seen as a religious leader who articulates the moral responsibilities and even clarifies what needs to be done to heal communities and to prevent conflict,” says Prof. Karam. “So, his role will continue to be to map out the how and why of resolving and avoiding conflicts, including of living more peacefully with ourselves as people of faith.”
The Pope closes the two-day Congress on Wednesday afternoon with a speech following the reading of the final declaration.
Encouraging Catholic community
Yet, the Holy Father will not fail to offer his closeness and encouragement to the Catholics of Kazakhstan.
He celebrates Holy Mass Wednesday at the “Expo Grounds” in Nur-Sultan for the small Catholic community.
Catholics make up around 1 percent of Kazakhstan’s population of 19 million, 70 percent of which is Muslim, and 25 percent Christian, primarily Russian Orthodox.
Pope Francis also meets with the Bishops, clergy, seminarians, and men and women religious of the country on Thursday morning at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Fr. Ruslan Rakhimberlinov, the rector of the Catholic seminary in Karaganda, says the local community feels blessed to host the Pope in their homeland.
“For us, the visit of Pope Francis to Kazakhstan is an opportunity for our small Catholic community here, our’ small flock’ in Kazakhstan, to gain some momentum,” he says.
Pope Francis will return to Rome on Thursday evening at around 8:00 PM local time.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican news
