Romanian Patriarchate's Banescu: Pope Francis to be received by Patriarch Daniel

Pope Francis will have a meeting with Patriarch Daniel on the occasion of the Pontiff's visit to Romania between 31 May and 2 June, the spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate, Vasile Banescu, told AGERPRES on Friday.

"We are glad that the visit was confirmed also due to the old and good relations between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, which were reinforced by the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1999 and renewed now by Pope Francis's forthcoming visit. He will be received by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel at a meeting whose program is to be announced. The good relations between the two Churches were and are manifested through the hospitality enjoyed by the Romanian communities in many countries, especially in Italy, where many of the Romanian parishes officiate their religious services in churches made available by the local Catholic community. We note that the visit of Pope Francis to Romania takes place following the official invitations to His Holiness by the Conference of (Catholic) Bishops in Romania, the President of Romania and the Prime Minister of Romania," said Vasile Banescu.

Pope Francis will pay a visit to Romania from 31 May to 2 June, the Presidential Administration announced on Friday, saying that the Pontiff Sovereign will visit the cities of Bucharest, Iasi and Blaj and the Saint Mary sanctuary in Sumuleu Ciuc.

The visit was also confirmed by the Vatican, which informed that Pope Francis would make an apostolic trip to Romania at the end of May and early June.