Pope Francis will visit Marseille, France, to attend the Third Mediterranean Regional Conference taking place there. At a press conference introducing the trip, Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, clarified that the focus will be on immigration, as well as the scope of the ecumenical movement and religious dialogue. It is not ruled out that the Pope may mention the climate change that is affecting the entire Mediterranean region.
(Vatican News Network) The Holy See Press Office held a press conference on September 19 to introduce Pope Francis’s upcoming visit to Marseille, France from the 22nd to the 23rd of this month. This time he will attend the closing of the Third Mediterranean Regional Conference. Activity. This is Pope Bergoglio’s 44th international trip.
Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, pointed out at a press conference that “at least in modern times, this is the first time a pope has traveled to Marseille.” The city “has various groups and has therefore become rich and diverse over time. Its face is diverse and its richness continues to be enhanced by French history and immigration.”
Therefore, it is no coincidence that this Mediterranean Regional Conference is held in Marseille. The meeting is being attended by bishops and religious leaders from all countries facing “our waters”, together with 120 young people, as well as representatives of several organizations and associations from civil society. Regarding the purpose of round tables, reflections, prayer gatherings, artistic and cultural performances, Pope Francis explained during the Angelus prayer Sunday, September 17, that is: “to promote processes of peace, cooperation and integration , and are particularly concerned about the phenomenon of immigration.” All this follows the trajectory outlined by the previous two sessions: the first two sessions were held in Bari in 2020 and Florence in 2022.
Bruni pointed out that “the first day of the Pope’s trip will take on the dimension of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, with a moment of common prayer in front of the monument to the memory of sailors and migrants lost at sea.” In addition to the flow of immigrants and the admission of refugees, there is another hot topic that cannot be ignored and which the Pope may mention in his speech. “That is the environment. Of course, the Mediterranean is a place where climate change has been strongly felt in recent years,” said the director of the Holy See Press Office.
In addition, Bruni also said that the pope may express his concern for the whole of France from Marseille and mention its many saints. “These words may have a special resonance across Europe.” Marseille is the second French city to welcome Pope Francis, after Strasbourg hosted the pope in 2014.
The Pope’s trip is still against the backdrop of war, and not just the war in Ukraine. Bruni said, “This is painful for the Pope and I cannot rule out that he will mention this in his speech.”
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2023-09-20 12:05:03
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