The 2 day trip, will see Pope visiting the capital Bucharest, the cities of Bucau, Iasi, Sibiu, Blaj, a popular Marian shrine in Sumuleu Ciuc, an important pilgrimage shrine for Hungarian Catholics, especially on Pentecost.
The Pope will arrive on 31st May and return on 2nd June, where he will also beatify 7 bishop-martyrs of the Eastern-rite Romanian Catholic Church, who died during a fierce anti-religious campaign which was waged under the communist regime.
On April 24th, the Vatican released a full schedule for the trip, updating an itinerary published in late March.
On Friday, May 31st, the Pope will depart from Rome’s Fumicino airport for Bucharest. He will have a welcoming ceremony at the entrance of the Presidential Palace. He will among other people meet the President, the Prime Minister and have a private meeting with Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Daniel at the Patriarchal Palace.
On Saturday June 1st, he will visit Bacau where he will celebrate a Mass at the Marian Shrine. He will then visit Our Lady Queen of Iasi Cathedral and then return to Bucharest. On Sunday 2nd June, he will visit Sibiu and Blaj where he will join the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the beatification of seven Martyred bishops of the Eastern-rite Romanian Catholic Church at Blaj’s Liberty field. In the afternoon he will depart for Rome’s Ciampino airport
REPORTER: Bridgette Mwanoka
