The papal nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown, appealed to the Filipino faithful to pray for Pope Francis as he embarks on a new journey in the coming weeks.
“Let us continue to pray for the health of Pope Francis, especially since he is scheduled to visit Kazakhstan,” said Archbishop Brown.
“Let us entrust him to the maternal care of the Blessed Mother Mary for his strength,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas 846.
The Vatican earlier announced that the pope will make his 38th apostolic journey abroad to Kazakhstan in mid-September for the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The theme of this year’s event will be “The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Faiths in the Socio-Spiritual Development of Humanity after the Pandemic.”
In early April, Pope Francis spoke about the possible journey during a live video conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
On the return flight from his apostolic visit to Canada last month, the pope said he would like to go to Kazakhstan. “That wouldn’t be too rigorous of a journey,” he said.
He reaffirmed his interest in being present at the congress of religions, saying it would likely not be overly physically demanding.
St. John Paul II was the first Pope to visit Kazakhstan from September 22-25, 2001.