Pope Francis will go to Bari in Southern Italy for Ecumenical Encounter for Peace on July 7th, announced Holy See Press Office Director Greg Burke to journalists present during the Council of Cardinals briefing.
The Vatican spokesman stressed that it will be a day of prayer and reflection for the situation in the Middle East and that local Church Leaders are to be invited.
The Press Office then released the following statement: “On July 7th, the Holy Father will go to Bari, on the Eastern coast of Italy that is home to the relics of St. Nicholas, for a day of reflection and prayer on the dramatic situation in the Middle East that afflicts so many brothers and sisters in the faith. ”
“At this ecumenical meeting for peace, he intends to invite the Heads of Churches and Christian communities of that region. From now on, Pope Francis exhorts us to prepare for this event with prayer.”
