2023-07-29 14:55:00
July 29, 2023 / 7:55 a.m.
The Vatican confirmed this Saturday that Pope Francis will visit the city of Marseille (France) on September 22 and 23 to participate in the closing of the “Mediterranean Meetings”, an event that will bring together bishops from 29 countries and young people from all over the Mediterranean .
This was confirmed by the Holy See Press Office in a statement released this July 29. He also gave details of the program in which the Holy Father will participate.
The “Mediterranean Encounters” are an initiative promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference in 2020, in the city of Bari, where a communion process took place between the dioceses bordering the Mediterranean. A second edition was held in Florence in 2022 and the third will be this year.
This July 29, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, expressed it’s a statement: “With all of France, we are delighted to receive the Holy Father” at the Meetings that will take place from September 17 to 24.
“From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all the faithful, I thank Pope Francis for agreeing to come to Marseille to strengthen our faith, sustain our hope and encourage us on the path of dialogue and peace, in mercy and charity,” he said.
Like the two previous meetings, Catholic bishops and representatives of churches of other religions and denominations will meet in Marseille to discuss the challenges of the Mediterranean basin, challenges of all the surrounding Catholic dioceses.
There will also be a festival in various locations in Marseille featuring a torchlight procession with a vigil and Marian night, Masses, conferences, exhibitions, concerts and shows.
The last visit of a Pope to Marseille dates back to 1533exactly 490 years ago or almost five centuries.
Program of the visit of Pope Francis to Marseille (Rome time)
Friday September 22 (Rome-Marseille)
2:35 p.m.
Departure by plane from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport to Marseille
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4:15 p.m.
Arrival at Marseille International Airport and official welcome from the President of France
5:15 p.m.
Marian prayer with the diocesan clergy in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde. Greetings of the Holy Father
6:00 p.m.
Moment of reflection with religious leaders near the Memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea. Intervention of the Holy Father
Saturday September 23 (Marseille-Rome)
8:45 a.m.
Private meeting with people in financial difficulties at the Archbishop’s residence
10:00 a.m.
Pope Francis leads the final session of the “Mediterranean Encounters” at the Palais du Pharo
11:30 a.m.
Meeting with the President of the Republic at the Palais du Pharo. Official photo, gift exchange, conversation
4:15 p.m.
Mass and homily of Pope Francis at the Velodrome Stadium
6:45 p.m.
Farewell ceremony at Marseille International Airport
7:15 p.m.
Departure by plane from Marseille International Airport to Rome
8:50 p.m.
Arrival at Rome/Fiumicino International Airport
Diego López Marina is a communicator and journalist by profession. He has been part of ACI Prensa since 2016 and currently works as one of the agency’s web editors.
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