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Pope Francis Embarks on Trip to Morocco (ZENIT Is on the Papal Flight)

Francis Met Moroccan Migrants at His Residence Before Boarding Flight, Which Zenit’s French Edition Director Anita Bourdin Is Aboard

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Pope Francis has taken off in his Alitalia flight with his papal entourage and journalists for his two-day visit to Morocco, March 30-31.
ZENIT’s Anita Bourdin, Director of the French Edition, is on the papal flight.
The Pontiff’s arrival in the nation’s capital of Rabat is expected at about 2 p.m. local time. The visit marks Francis’ 28th Apostolic Visit abroad and his 42nd country visited.
Before leaving for the airport, Francis met a group of Moroccan migrants who are hosted in Italy, thanks to the Community of Sant’Egidio, at his residence Casa Santa Marta. They included two families, each with two children, two young women and a young man. The group was accompanied by the Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
Pope Francis’ trip follows the visit of his predecessor Saint John Paul II to the country in 1985. In his video message to Moroccans ahead of the trip, Francis has noted, like the Polish Pontiff, he comes as a «pilgrim of peace and fraternity.»
Morocco is a majority-Muslim nation, with Muslims making up about 99 percent of the population, and its Catholic community making up less than .1 percent.
Similar to his Apostolic Visit Feb. 3-5 United Arab Emirates, where ZENIT English Edition Senior Vatican Correspondent was on the papal flight, the first day of the trip will be focused on interreligious dialogue and the second to the local Catholic community.
The Holy Father is expected to focus on interreligious, and even some ecumenical, dialogue, migration, and encouraging the country’s small Catholic flock.
The Vatican on February 26, 2019, released the updated program below for the trip:
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Saturday 30 March 2019ROME-RABAT
10.45 Departure by air from Rome-Fiumicino Airport for Rabat
14.00 Arrival at Rabat-Salé International Airport
OFFICIAL WELCOME
 14.30 WELCOME CEREMONY in the square in front of the Royal Palace
 14.50 COURTESY VISIT TO KING MOHAMMED VI in the Royal Palace
 15.30 MEETING with the MOROCCAN PEOPLE, the AUTHORITIES, with CIVIL SOCIETY and with the DIPLOMATIC CORPS on the Esplanade of the Mosquée Hassan II Address of the Holy Father
 16.30 VISIT TO THE MAUSOLEUM OF MOHAMMED V
 17.00 VISIT TO THE MOHAMMED VI INSTITUTE FOR THE TRAINING OF IMAMS, MORCHIDINES AND MORCHIDATES Greeting of the Holy Father
 18.00 MEETING WITH MIGRANTS at the premises of diocesan Caritas Greeting of the Holy Father
Sunday 31 March 2019RABAT-ROME
 9.30 VISIT TO THE CENTRE RURAL DES SERVICES SOCIAUX of Témara
 10.35 MEETING WITH PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS, CONSECRATED PERSONS and the ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES in the Cathedral of Rabat Address of the Holy FatherAngelus of the Holy Father
 12.00 Lunch with the Papal Entourage
 14.45 HOLY MASS Homily of the Holy Father
 17.00 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Rabat-Salé International Airport
17:15 Departure by air for Rome
21:30 Arrival at Rome-Ciampino International Airport
[Courtesy of Vatican Radio]
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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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