It’s official: Pope Francis is making a day trip to Geneva on June 21, to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches.
Today, Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, confirmed the trip to Switzerland’s capital, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, presented it in the Holy See Press Office, along with Dr. Reverend Olaf Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC).
While the Swiss cardinal noted that the detailed program is still being discussed, he explained that upon his arrival to Geneva, the Holy Father is expected to meet shortly with the President of the Swiss Confederation for a courtesy visit. He will then visit the Ecumenical Center. The visit to the WCC headquarters will include a time for ecumenical prayer in the chapel of the Center and the Holy Father will also attend a special session of the Central Committee commemorating the Anniversary. Upon the invitation from the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, the Holy Father will also celebrate a Holy Mass for the Catholic community of Geneva and other pilgrims.
The return to Rome is planned for the evening of the same day. Cardinal Koch told Zenit that he does not believe the visit will be extended to a second day, but just for this encounter.
