POPE FRANCIS’ 2024 TRAVEL AGENDA
After an exhausting five-hour trip by Pope Francis to Venice on Sunday as the lagoon city hosts the 60th edition of the Venice Art Biennale, we learn that the Holy Father has another one-day trip within Italy on his schedule for May 18– Verona. The Holy See Press Office today released the itinerary for Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Verona on May 18, the eve of Pentecost, featuring meetings with the local Church, children, and prisoners. The theme of this visit: “Justice and peace will embrace,” a quotation from Psalm 85. Vatican releases schedule for Pope’s visit to Verona – Vatican News
Add that to other trips, some in the planning stage while others do not yet have confirmed dates. The Pope’s Apostolic trip to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore is, however, confirmed for September 2-13, 2024. September was also a month suggested for his trip to Belgium to mark the 600th anniversary of the University of Louvain. He was invited on September 14, 2023 when he received King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium but no date has been confirmed.
Another Italian trip set for June: The Holy See Press Office on April 26 confirmed that Pope Francis will speak at the G7 Summit in Italy’s southern Puglia region in the session devoted to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The confirmation of the Holy Father’s participation in the Summit, which will take place from June 13 to 15 at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, followed the announcement made by Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
The Holy Father in several interviews has mentioned that, after 11 years absent from Argentina, he hopes to return, perhaps later this year, to his native country.
Rumors are circulating that he might address a session of the United Nations in September but that is not yet written in stone. He has been invited by the U.N. secretary general.
It is well known that Pope Francis has had health and mobility issues for some time but it seems he is not allowing such limitations to get in the way of travels.
VATICAN NEWS: PARISH PRIESTS MEET TO SHARE EXPERIENCES OF SYNODALITY
(JFL: Finally! Following huge post synodal criticism about the absence of parish priests at the October 2023 synod – those people closest to the grassroots of the Church! – the Vatican organized a meeting in Rome, now underway!)
Parish priests from around the world gather in Sacrafano, outside Rome, for an International Meeting dedicated to the question of “How to be a local synodal Church on Mission.” Some three hundred parish priests from around the world have gathered in Sacrofano, outside of Rome, for a meeting dedicated to listening, prayer, and discernment to address the question of how to be a local synodal Church on mission.
Organized by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Dicastery for the Clergy, in collaboration with the Dicasteries for Evangelization and for the Oriental Churches, the International Meeting is aimed at “listening to and valuing the experience parish priests live in their respective local Churches” and offering them the opportunity “to experience the dynamism of synodal work at a universal level.”
The Meeting comes in response to the desire expressed by the Synod Fathers to “develop ways for a more active involvement of deacons, priests, and bishops in the synodal process,” following criticism that parish priests were notably absent from the General Assembly. FULL STORY: Parish priests meet to share experiences of synodality – Vatican News
Joan's Rome 